Photography – Having camera indicator – Film condition indicator
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-19
2001-05-15
Perkey, W. B. (Department: 2851)
Photography
Having camera indicator
Film condition indicator
C396S302000, C396S396000, C396S407000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233406
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a camera having a manual winding device in which a film can be manually wound.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a known manual film winding device in which a film is wound by one frame by rotating a wind lever, a ratchet mechanism is provided which prevents the wind lever from being returned to the initial position without rotating the wind lever to a wind end extremity.
In a camera having such a film winding device, it is known to provide a film feed amount detection device which counts outputs of a photo-interrupter having a roller which comes into contact with the film to rotate therewith and a code plate which is rotated in association with the roller in order to measure the amount of the film to be fed. In this type of camera, even if the wind lever is released during the winding operation, the power supply to the photo-interrupter continues during the counting operation of the pulses, thus resulting in an increase in the power consumption. However, if the power supply to the photo-interrupter is stopped after the lapse of a predetermined time, it is then impossible to count the pulses in order to detect the film feed amount when the winding operation device is re-started.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a camera having a film winding apparatus in which the feed amount of the film which is manually wound by a winding operation device is detected, so that the film can be precisely fed by a constant amount, wherein if the winding operation device is released during the winding operation, the power supply is reduced to save the power, and if the winding operation device is re-operated to wind the film, a constant amount of film can be reliably fed.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a camera is provided having a manual film winding apparatus in which a film is wound in association with a rotation of a winding operation device from a wind start position to a wind end position, including an encoder which rotates in association with the movement of the film which is wound by the rotation of the winding operation device and generates a signal each time the winding operation device is rotated by a predetermined angle; a film feed amount detection device which counts output of the encoder to detect the feed amount of the film; a rotation detection device for detecting the rotation of the winding operation device; and a controller which interrupts the encoder by turning the encoder OFF after the lapse of a predetermined time when the winding operation device is stopped during the winding operation, wherein the controller turns the encoder ON when the rotation detection device detects rotation of the winding operation device thereafter, so that the film feed amount detection device continues the counting operation.
Preferably, the encoder is a photo-interrupter.
An indication device can be included, wherein the controller causes the indication device to indicate a warning indication after the lapse of the predetermined time.
Alternatively, an acoustic alarm device can be included, wherein the controller causes the acoustic alarm device to generate an alarm sound after the lapse of the predetermined time.
Preferably, the controller actuates the indication device in different modes depending on the lapse time from the stoppage of the winding operation device.
Preferably, the controller actuates the acoustic alarm device in different modes depending on the lapse time from the stoppage of the winding operation device.
Alternatively, an indication device and an acoustic alarm device is included wherein the controller causes the indication device to indicate a warning indication after the lapse of a first predetermined time, and causes the acoustic alarm device to generate an alarm sound after the lapse of a second predetermined time longer than the first predetermined time.
Preferably, the photo-interrupter includes a roller which comes into contact with the film and rotates in association with the feed of the film, and a encoder plate which is rotated in association with the roller, the encoder plate being adapted to generate a signal each time the encoder plate rotates by a predetermined angle, so that the signals can be counted by the film feed amount detection device.
Preferably, the winding operation device includes a wind lever which can be rotated from the wind start position to the wind end position; and a spool which rotates in association with the rotation of the wind lever from the wind start position to the wind end position, wherein the film is wound via the rotation of the spool.
Preferably, a ratchet mechanism is also provided which stops stepwise the reverse rotation of the wind lever toward the wind start position during the rotation of the winding operation device from the wind start position toward the wind end position; wherein the rotation detection device is included of an intermediate position detection switch which detects when the winding operation device has moved from an engagement position with the ratchet mechanism to another engagement position.
Preferably, the controller detects the amount of film that is wound via an output of a photo-interrupter having a roller which comes into contact with the film and is rotated in association with the movement of the film and an encoder plate which is rotated in association with the roller. The camera includes a friction clutch which connects or disconnects the wind lever to, or from, the spool; and a film wind stop device which stops the rotation of the spool when the film feed amount detector detects that a predetermined amount of film is wound, wherein the friction clutch disconnects the wind lever from the spool so that the wind lever can be rotated to the wind end position without winding the film any further.
Preferably, a preliminary angle switch is also provided, wherein when the preliminary angle switch detects that the wind lever has been rotated past a preliminary angle toward the wind end position, the controller supplying electric power to the encoder; wherein when the wind lever has been rotated past the wind start position and before reaching the wind end position, the controller interrupts the encoder by turning the encoder OFF after the lapse of a predetermined time.
Preferably, the controller stops the indication warning of the indication device when the rotation detection device detects rotation of the winding operation device during the indication warning.
Preferably, the controller stops the alarm sound of the acoustic alarm device when the rotation detection device detects rotation of the winding operation device during the alarm sound.
The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No.10-334628 (filed on Nov. 25, 1998) which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4084169 (1978-04-01), Iwata et al.
patent: 4174888 (1979-11-01), Hunn et al.
patent: 4885599 (1989-12-01), Goto et al.
patent: 5903784 (1999-05-01), Hori
patent: 6126333 (2000-10-01), Hori
patent: 19728982 (1998-01-01), None
patent: 10-20375 (1998-01-01), None
Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Perkey W. B.
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