Apparatus for loading a photographic camera with a film specified by a customer

Claim 2

Apparatus for loading film into a photographic camera, the camera including an external housing having at least one movable closure which, in an open position of the closure, enables a discrete filmstrip to be loaded from an exterior of the camera into the camera, said camera includes a memory feature for storing and communicating information, said apparatus comprising: a frame; a station supported by said frame for a camera to be loaded; a customer interface supported by said frame for inputting a first signal corresponding to a type of film desired for a camera; a source supported by said frame for unexposed photographic film, said source including at least one type of unexposed photographic film; a film loading member supported by said frame and extended between said source and said station for guiding film from said source into a camera at said station; a mechanism supported by said frame for driving film from said source, via said film loading member; and a customer interface supported by said frame for inputting to the memory feature a second signal corresponding to a desired number of exposures for a filmstrip to be loaded into the camera, said means for controlling also being responsive to said second signal to deliver to a camera a filmstrip having the desired number of exposures.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one movable closure of the camera alternatively enables a discrete filmstrip to be unloaded from the camera to the exterior, further comprising: a film unloading member supported by said frame and extended away from said station for guiding a filmstrip away from a camera; means for processing a filmstrip received from said film unloading member; and means for printing photographs from a processed filmstrip received from said means for processing.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the camera includes a memory feature for storing and communicating information, further comprising: a customer interface supported by said frame for inputting to the memory feature at least one signal about a desired manner of photofinishing; means supported by said frame for communicating with said customer interface and a camera to transmit to or receive from the camera information about a desired manner of photo-finishing; and means supported by said frame for communicating said information about a desired manner of photo-finishing to said means for processing, or said means for printing, or both.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said customer interface inputs said information about a desired manner of photo-finishing at a time when unexposed film is loaded into a camera.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said means for communicating receives said information about a desired manner of photo-finishing at a time when film is unloaded from a camera.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: means supported by said frame and located between said station and said source, for shaping an end of a filmstrip to a desired geometry when a camera is loaded with unexposed film.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: said means for shaping simultaneously forms leader and trailer end geometry's of successive filmstrips.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: means supported by said frame for providing latent images on at least one edge of a filmstrip, during loading into a camera.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized by: a customer interface supported by said frame for inputting a second signal corresponding to a desired number of exposures to be loaded into a camera; said means for controlling also being responsive to said second signal for controlling said mechanism to deliver to a camera a filmstrip having the desired number of exposures.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said source comprises: a plurality of cassettes, each cassette comprising a hollow housing having an exit slit, a roll of unexposed photographic film mounted for rotation within said housing, and means within said housing for engaging a leading end of said film to drive the film through said exit slit; a support for said plurality of cassettes, said support being movably supported by said frame; and means for moving said support to present each cassette to drive said film to said film loading member.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said cassettes contain different types of photographic films.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said support comprises: a drum rotatably supported by said frame; a plurality of cassette platforms extended radially from said drum, there being one platform for each of said cassettes; and said second mechanism comprises a plurality of drive motors, one mounted on each of said platforms, for engaging and operating said means for driving of each said cassette to drive film via said loading member to a camera.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each of said cassettes comprises a cutter for said film; further comprising a plurality of cutter actuators, one mounted on each of said platforms, for engaging and operating said cutters.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each of said cassettes comprises: means for sending first signals corresponding to a type of film within said cassette, or a length of film remaining within said cassette, or both; further comprising: means supported by said frame for receiving said first signals; a customer interface supported by said frame for inputting second signals corresponding to a desired number of exposures for a filmstrip to be loaded into a camera; and said means for controlling being responsive to said first and second signals to control said source to deliver to a camera an appropriate type of film, or a desired number of exposures, or both.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the camera includes a feature for self-testing one or more functions of the camera and for producing a second signal indicative of results of the self-testing and said means for controlling also is responsive to said second signal.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the camera includes a feature for tracking a number of permitted times for the camera to be reloaded and for producing a second signal indicative of said number and said means for controlling also is responsive to said second signal.

Claim 18

Apparatus for loading film into a photographic camera, the camera including an external housing having at least one movable closure which, in an open position of the closure, enables a discrete filmstrip to be loaded from an exterior of the camera into the camera, said camera includes a memory feature which stores and communicates information, said apparatus comprising: a frame; a station supported by said frame for a camera to be loaded; a customer interface supported by said frame for inputting a first signal corresponding to a type of film desired for a camera; a source supported by said frame for unexposed photographic film, said source including at least one type of unexposed photographic film; a film loading member supported by said frame and extended between said source and said station for guiding film from said source into a camera at said station; a mechanism supported by said frame for driving film from said source, via said film loading member, and to a camera at said station; means responsive to said first signal for controlling said source and said mechanism for driving to deliver the desired film to a camera; and means for communicating to the memory feature information about at least one of a number of exposures to be loaded into the camera, film speed, number of permitted reloads for the camera, photo-finishing instructions, and time and date request for each exposure.

Claim 19

Apparatus for loading film into a photographic camera, the camera including an external housing having at least one movable closure which, in an open position of the closure, enables a discrete filmstrip to be loaded from an exterior of the camera into the camera, said camera includes a memory feature which stores and communicates information, said apparatus comprising: a frame; a station supported by said frame for a camera to be loaded; a customer interface supported by said frame for inputting a first signal corresponding to a type of film desired for a camera; a source supported by said frame for unexposed photographic film, said source including at least one type of unexposed photographic film; a film loading member supported by said frame and extended between said source and said station for guiding film from said source into a camera at said station; a mechanism supported by said frame for driving film from said source, via said film loading member, and to a camera at said station; means responsive to said first signal for controlling said source and said mechanism for driving to deliver the desired film to a camera; and means for communicating to the memory feature information about at least one of a number of exposures to be loaded into the camera, film speed, number of permitted reloads for the camera, photo-finishing instructions, and time and date request for each exposure.