JP2000089344A - Instant camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To relieve a load imposed on a motor and the like at the time of ejecting a film cover. SOLUTION: A spreading control member 55 is made to freely move between a retreat position where it gets out of the ejection path of the film cover 30 and a slide-contact position shown by an alternate long and two short dashes line. Since the member 55 moves to the retreat position from the slide-contact position interlocked with the opening of a pack chamber 20 by a cover member 24, the cover 30 and the member 55 do not come in slide-contact with each other in the case of ejecting the cover 30 first after loading a film pack 19. Since the member 55 moves to the slide-contact position from the retreat position by means of a film ejecting mechanism in a state where the cover 30 is ejected as a driving source, it is set to the slide-contact position after ejecting the cover 30.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an instant camera, and more particularly, to an instant camera capable of easily discharging a film cover.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of mono-sheet type instant film units and cameras and printers using the instant film units are sold. The instant film unit includes a cover sheet having a front surface serving as an exposure surface, a base sheet disposed facing the back surface of the cover sheet, a photosensitive layer and an image receiving layer provided between the cover sheet and the base sheet. And a developer pod, a trap section, and the like. The instant film unit is divided into a transmission type and a reflection type according to a method of forming a printed image. In the transmission type, a latent image formed on a photosensitive layer is formed as a positive image on an inner surface of a base sheet, and an exposure surface and a positive image are formed. The formation surface is different from the formation surface. In the reflection type, the latent image formed on the photosensitive layer is reflected by the built-in reflection layer, and the exposed surface and the positive image forming surface are the same.

[0003] The instant film unit is sold as a film pack in a state where a plurality of the optical film units are housed in a box-shaped case in a light-tight manner, and the instant camera is loaded together with the film pack. In a camera using this instant film unit, after exposing the photosensitive layer of the instant film unit to subject light, the exposed instant film unit is discharged out of the device, and the developing solution in the developer pod is exposed on the way. A film discharge mechanism for spreading and developing on the layer is incorporated.

[0004] An exposure opening for exposing the exposure surface of the instant film unit is formed in the case, and in order to block the exposure opening and shield the inside of the case from light,
The film cover is stored in the case. The film cover is formed in a thin plate shape using a light-shielding plastic, and is disposed between the uppermost instant film unit and the exposure opening. Then, after the film pack is loaded into the pack chamber of the instant camera, the lid member for opening and closing the pack chamber is closed, and the inside of the pack chamber is shielded from light, the film cover is moved out by the operation of the film discharge mechanism by the first shutter release. Is discharged. Further, depending on the camera, the film cover may be discharged in conjunction with the closing of the lid member.

[0005] Some instant cameras are provided with a spreading control member for slidingly contacting the instant film unit being conveyed by the film discharging mechanism to spread the developer more evenly. This spreading control member is
By spreading the surface of the instant film unit, the developer is spread to every corner.

[0006]

In the instant camera provided with the spread control member, when the film cover is discharged, the spread control member slides on the film cover. However, since the film cover is less flexible than the instant film unit, a large load is applied to the spread control member and the film discharge mechanism,
In some cases, the spread control member and the film discharge mechanism were damaged. Further, there is also a problem that an unpleasant sliding contact sound or the like is generated by sliding contact between the film cover and the spreading control member, both of which are formed of plastic.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to reduce the load at the time of discharging a film cover.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an instant camera according to the present invention comprises: a sliding position at which a spreading control member slides on an instant film unit;
When the film cover is discharged, the spreading control member is moved to the retracted position so that the instantaneous film unit can be retracted from the discharge path of the instant film unit and moved to a retracted position to avoid sliding contact with the instant film unit. It is intended to be moved.

Further, the movement of the spread control member to the retracted position is performed in conjunction with the opening or closing of the lid member.

Further, the driving force of the film discharging mechanism is used to move the spread control member from the retracted position to the sliding position.

[0011]

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an instant camera using the developing solution developing device of the present invention. The instant camera 2 has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the front, and is loaded with a film pack containing a plurality of instant film units (hereinafter abbreviated as film units) from the back side. In the center of the front surface of the instant camera 2, a lens barrel 4 in which the taking lens 3 is incorporated is provided. This lens barrel 4
It is movable between a position protruding forward from the camera body 5 and a position retracted inside the camera body 5, thereby improving the portability of the instant camera 2 when not in use. The instant camera 2 uses an auto-focusing mechanism of an infrared light active system, and a projection window 7 and a light reception window 8 constituting a distance measuring device are provided on the front surface of the lens barrel 4 in addition to the photographing lens 3. And a photometric window 9 that constitutes a photometric device. These windows 7-9
A light-emitting element and a light-receiving element are incorporated in the back.

A grip 11 is integrally formed on one side of the instant camera 2.
A shutter button 12 is provided at the top of the camera. The shutter button 12 can be pressed to two levels of depth,
Distance measurement and photometry are performed when the shutter button is pressed halfway, and shutter release is performed when the shutter button is pressed deeply.

When the photographing range is confirmed by a finder 14 provided above the side surface of the instant camera 2 and the shutter button 12 is half-pressed, the distance measurement and photometry are performed through the above-described light projecting window 7, light receiving window 8, and light measuring window 9. Is performed. When the shutter button 12 is pressed deeply, a shutter device incorporated in the lens barrel 4 performs a release operation based on the measured distance measurement value and photometry value. When the brightness of the subject is low, the strobe light is automatically emitted from the strobe light emitting unit 15 disposed above the lens barrel 4 toward the subject. After the photographing, the film unit 17 under development is discharged from the slit-shaped film discharge port 16 formed on the upper surface of the instant camera 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, which is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the instant camera 2, the camera body 5 includes a film pack 1
A pack chamber 20 in which the camera 9 is loaded is formed on the back side, and includes a main body base 21 to which various photographing function components are attached, and a front cover 22 and a rear cover 23 that cover the front side and the back side of the main body base 21. Have been. A plate-shaped lid member 24 that opens and closes the pack chamber 20 is attached to the rear cover 23 via a hinge 25. On the front side of the main body base 21, there is provided a dark box section 26 that shields a photographic optical path between the photographic lens 3 and the film pack 19.
Between the dark box section 26 and the pack chamber 20, there is a photographing opening 2
7 are formed.

The film pack 19 includes a box-shaped plastic case 29 and a film unit 17 in which a plurality of sheets are stacked and stored in the case 29.
And a film cover 30 housed in a case 29 together with the film unit 17. The film unit 17 includes an exposure surface 17a on the inner surface side of which a photosensitive layer, an image receiving layer, and a reflection layer are provided, and is exposed to subject light.
It is a transmission type including a developer pod 17b containing a developer, and a trap portion 17c which captures and hardens excess developer which is poured into the photosensitive layer from the developer pod 17b. It is a mono-sheet type that can be handled as a sheet.

An exposure opening 32 for exposing the exposure surface 17a of the stored film unit 17 is provided on the front surface of the case 29.
Is formed on the upper surface of the case 29, and a slit-shaped film outlet 33 for discharging the photographed film unit 17 out of the case 29 is provided. When not in use, the film pack 19 has a thin film cover 30.
As a result, the exposure opening 33 is shielded from the inside of the case 29, and the film outlet 33 is closed by a flexible light shielding seal 34 as shown in FIG. The film cover 33 is formed of a light-blocking plastic, and has higher rigidity than the film unit 17.

On the inner wall of the back surface of the case 29, a ridge-shaped push-up projection 35 is formed at the center. The push-up protrusion 35 presses the film unit 17 forward through a light shielding sheet 36 disposed behind the film unit 17 to give the frontmost film unit 17 flatness. The push-up projection 3 is provided on the back of the case 29.
5, two holes 37 and 38 are formed. When the film pack 19 is loaded in the pack chamber 20 of the instant camera 2 and the cover member 24 is closed, the push-up members 39 and 40 provided on the inner wall surface of the cover member 24 enter these holes 37 and 38. It is for.

The push-up members 39 and 40 are disclosed in
As described in Japanese Patent No. 44336, the film unit 17 is pressed by the urging force of the spring in the thickness direction of the film unit 17 to impart flatness to the frontmost film unit 17 in the case 29. The push-up member 3
The holes 37 and 38 into which the film packs 9 and 40 enter are the film pack 1
When 9 is not in use, the light shielding sheet 42 is light-tightly closed.

Although not shown in detail, a notch is formed continuously below the exposure opening 32 of the case 29, into which a claw member constituting a film discharging mechanism enters. As shown in FIG. 5, the claw member is included in a claw mechanism constituting a film discharging mechanism, and a claw mechanism 44 converts the rotational movement of the motor 46 transmitted via the reduction gear train 45 into a vertical sliding movement. Convert and move the claw member up and down. The claw member enters into the cutout of the case 29 from below and comes into contact with the lower end of the film cover 30 or the film unit 17 in the front row. Then, by moving upward as it is, the film cover 30 is moved.
Alternatively, the film unit 17 is pushed upward in the case 29 and sent out from the film outlet 33 of the case 29.

On the upper surface of the pack chamber 20, there is formed a film feed port 48 for feeding out the film unit 17 having been photographed from the pack chamber 20. An unfolding roller pair 49 constituting a film discharging mechanism is provided above the film feeding port 48.
Is arranged. The developing roller pair 49 nips the film unit 17 and the film cover 30 sent out from the pack chamber 20 and conveys the film toward the upper film discharge port 16. In addition, the developer pod 17c
, And the developer is poured onto the photosensitive layer to spread it evenly.

The developing roller pair 49 includes a driving roller 51 that is rotated clockwise by a motor 46 via a reduction gear train 45, and a driven roller 52 that rotates counterclockwise following the driving roller 51. Consists of The drive roller 51 and the driven roller 52 are formed using a hard steel material in order to reduce a dimensional error in the diameter in the axial direction. The driven roller 52 is movable in the thickness direction of the film unit 17 in order to spread the developing solution uniformly on the photosensitive layer, and is pressed against the driving roller 51 by the bias of the spring 53.

A motor 46 for driving the claw mechanism 44 and the developing roller pair 49 is operated in conjunction with a shutter release operation. As a result, the photographed film unit 17 is automatically discharged out of the camera body 5 after the photographing.

As shown in FIG. 4, between the film outlet 48 and the developing roller pair 49, the developing solution is uniformly spread on the photosensitive layer by slidingly contacting the rear surface of the film unit 17 being conveyed. A spreading control member 55 is provided. The distal end of the spread control member 55 is formed in an arc shape so as not to damage the rear surface of the film unit 17.

The unfolding roller pair 49 is arranged at a position where the contact position between the driving roller 51 and the driven roller 52 is shifted to the rear side of the instant camera 2 from the tip of the spreading control member 55. As a result, the film unit 17 comes into contact with the developing roller pair 49, the spread control member 55, and the edge of the film outlet 33 of the case 29, so that the film unit 17 is bent into a gentle S-shape. As a result, the sliding contact force between the film unit 17 and the spreading control member 55 increases, and the spreading of the developer by the spreading control member 55 is performed more effectively.

Further, a film passage 57 for guiding the film unit 17 passing through the unfolding roller pair 49 to the film discharge port 16 is inclined toward the front of the instant camera 2. As a result, the contact area between the developer pod 17b of the film unit 17 and the drive roller 51 increases, and the effect of spreading the developer by the drive roller 51 improves.

Further, the spreading control member 55 is provided in FIGS.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is movable between a sliding position where it slides against the film unit 17 being transported and a retract position where it retracts from the transport path of the film unit 17 as shown in FIGS. I have. The extension control member 55 is formed in a plate shape and includes pins 55a provided on both side surfaces of the rear end portion.
The instant camera 2 by the spring 59
It is urged toward the back side.

The movement of the spread control member 55 from the sliding contact position to the retracted position is performed by the urging force of the spring 59 and the opening operation of the lid member 24. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,
The extension control member 55 at the sliding contact position is held by the slide member 61 against the bias of the spring 59. The slide member 61 includes a holding portion 62 that holds the spread control member 55 at the sliding contact position and a slide portion 63 that is slidably incorporated into the main body base 21, and is slidable along the front-rear direction of the instant camera 2. Have been. Holder 62
Is formed with a projection 64 for holding the rear end of the spread control member 55, and holds the spread control member 55 at the sliding contact position together with the support plate 65 disposed in front of the slide member 61.

The sliding portion 63 of the sliding member 61
Is exposed to the inside of the pack chamber 20 through the main body base 21, and is pressed by a projection 24 a formed on the inner surface side of the lid member 24. Slide member 61
When the lid member 24 is closed, it is pressed by the projection 24a and pushed into the interior of the instant camera 2, and when the lid member 24 is opened, the pressing by the lid member 24 is released. When the cover member 24 is opened when the spread control member 55 is in the sliding contact position, the slide member 61 is moved toward the rear side of the instant camera 2 by the pressing of the spread control member 55 urged by the spring 59. Slide. When the slide member 61 slides toward the back side of the instant camera 2, the spread control member 55 also moves toward the back side, and at this time, the rear end of the spread control member 55
Guide members 67 arranged on both sides of the slide member 61
Abuts on the inclined surface 67a of Thereby, the spread control member 55 slides along the inclined surface 67a, and as shown in FIGS. 1, 6, and 7, the slide member 61 and the pack chamber 2 are moved.
It moves to the retreat position between the upper surface and the upper surface.

The movement of the spread control member 55 from the retracted position to the sliding position is performed by rotation of a pair of gears 69 and 70 disposed so as to sandwich the spread control member 55 from both sides. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the pair of gears 69 and 70 are connected by a shaft 71. When one of the gears 69 is rotated clockwise by the reduction gear train 45, the other gear 70 is also rotated. Rotate together. The gears 69 and 70 are set to make one rotation while one film cover 30 or the film unit 17 is discharged out of the camera body 5.

Pins 69a and 70a are formed on the inner surfaces of the gears 69 and 70 so as to face each other.
These pins 69a, 70a contact and press the pressing protrusions 73, 74 provided on both side surfaces of the spread control member 55. Thus, the extension control member 55 at the retracted position is
Moves toward the front side of the instant camera 2 against the bias of the spring 59. Further, since the pressing protrusions 73 and 74 are inclined surfaces, the spreading control member 55
a of the slide member 61 and the support plate 65, which are also moved toward the upper side of the instant camera 2 with the movement of the a and 70 a and are pressed by the lid member 24 and protrude into the instant camera 2. It is stored in the contact position.

As described above, since the spreading control member 55 is always moved to the retracted position when the lid member 24 is opened,
When the film pack 19 is loaded into the pack chamber 20 and the film cover 30 is first discharged out of the instant camera 2, the spread control member 55 and the film cover 30 do not come into sliding contact with each other. And deployment roller pair 4
9, an unnecessary load can be prevented from being applied to the reduction gear train 45, the motor 46, and the like, and an unpleasant sliding contact noise can be prevented. Further, the spreading control member 55, which has been moved to the retracted position, moves to the sliding position while the film cover 30 is being discharged. Can be deployed properly.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described. When taking a picture with the instant camera 2 shown in FIG. 2, the cover member 24 shown in FIG.
Is loaded with an unused film pack 19. When the cover member 24 is opened as shown in FIG. 7 when the extension control member 55 is in the sliding contact position as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pressing of the slide member 61 by the projection 24a of the cover member 24 is reduced. It is released. Then, the extension control member 55 presses the slide member 61 toward the back side of the instant camera 2 by the urging force of the spring 59. The slide member 61 is pressed by the spread control member 55 and slides toward the back of the instant camera 2.

When the extension control member 55 and the slide member 61 move toward the back side of the instant camera 2, the rear ends of the extension control member 55 are guided by guide members 67 arranged on both sides of the slide member 61. Abuts on the inclined surface 67a of The spread control member 55 is moved toward the rear side of the instant camera 2 along the inclined surface 67a by the bias of the spring 59, and as shown in FIGS.
Stops at the retracted position between the upper surface of the slide member and the slide member 61.

In this state, an unused film pack 19 is loaded into the pack chamber 20, and the lid member 24 is closed. When the lid member 24 is closed, the protrusion 24 a presses the slide member 61 and slides the slide member 61 toward the inside of the instant camera 2. When the shutter button 12 is pressed in preparation for photographing after the lid member 24 is closed, the motor 46 starts rotating for a certain time. The rotation of the motor 46 is reduced by the reduction gear train 45 and transmitted to the claw mechanism 44, the developing roller pair 49, and the gear 69.

The claw mechanism 44 converts the rotational movement of the motor 46 into a vertical sliding movement, and inserts the claw from below into a cutout formed in the lower part of the front surface of the case 29 of the film pack 19. The claw moves upward in the notch and contacts the lower end of the film cover 30 arranged in the front row in the case 29, and the film cover 3
Push 0 upward. The film cover 30 pushed up by the claw pushes out the light-shielding sticker 34 attached to the film outlet 33 of the case 29 and projects upward from the film outlet 33. Case 29
The film cover 30 sent out of the camera is nipped by a pair of developing rollers 49 through a film sending port 48, and is discharged from the upper film discharging port 16 to the outside of the instant camera 2.

As described above, when the film cover 30 is discharged, since the spread control member 55 is at the retracted position, the film cover 30 and the spread control member 55 do not come into sliding contact with each other. Unnecessary loads are not applied to the gear train 45 and the motor 46. Further, no unpleasant sliding noise between the film cover 30 and the spread control member 55 is generated.

During the rotation of the motor 46 for discharging the film cover 30 for a predetermined time, the gear 69 makes one rotation. The pins 69a and 70a formed on the inner surfaces of the gear 69 and the gear 70 respectively contact and press the pressing protrusions 73 and 74 provided on both side surfaces of the spread control member 55. The spread control member 55 is moved toward the upper front of the instant camera 2 as shown in FIG. 8 by pressing the pins 69a and 70a, and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the slide member 61 and the support plate 65 are moved. Is moved to the sliding contact position supported by.

After the preparation for photographing is completed as described above, framing is performed with the finder 14 and the shutter button 12 is operated so that photographing can be performed at any time. After the shutter release, the motor 46 operates to feed the film unit 17 having been photographed from the case 29 by the claw mechanism. The film unit 17 sent out of the case 29 is nipped by a pair of developing rollers 49 through a film sending port 48, and is discharged from the film discharging port 16. At this time, since the spread control member 55 is reliably moved from the retracted position to the sliding contact position with the discharge of the film cover 30, the pressing by the developing roller pair 49 and the sliding contact by the spread control member 55 cause the spread control member 55 to slide. The developer contained in the developer pod 17a is evenly spread on the photosensitive layer, and a high-quality printed photograph can be obtained.

Although the gears 69 and 70 rotate even after the film cover 30 is discharged, since the spread control member 55 is moved to the sliding position, the pins 69 of the gears 69 and 70 are rotated.
The extension control member 55 is not pressed by the a and 70a.

In the above embodiment, the spread control member is moved from the sliding position to the retracted position in conjunction with the opening of the lid member. However, the spreading control member is moved in conjunction with the closing of the lid member, or when loading or unloading a film pack. The spread control member may be moved from the sliding position to the retracted position in conjunction with the removal or the like, and the spread control member only needs to be in sliding contact with the film cover when the film cover is discharged. Further, although the spread control member is moved between the sliding contact position and the retracted position by sliding movement, it may be rotated or rocked. Further, the spreading control member may be moved using an actuator such as a solenoid.

[0041]

As described above, in the instant camera of the present invention, when the film cover is discharged, the spread control member is retracted from the discharge path of the film cover. Unnecessary load due to sliding contact between the film cover and the spread control member can be prevented.

Further, the movement of the spread control member to the retracted position is performed in conjunction with the opening or closing of the cover member. Therefore, when the film cover is discharged, the spread control member is reliably moved to the retracted position. be able to. Further, the movement of the spreading control member from the retracted position to the sliding contact position is performed by using the driving force of the film discharging mechanism, so that it is not necessary to provide a new driving source, and it can be adopted at a low cost. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part showing a state of a spreading control member when a film cover is discharged.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an instant camera embodying the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a configuration of the camera of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part showing a state of a spread control member when the film unit is discharged.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a state when the spreading control member is at a sliding contact position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state when the spread control member is at a retracted position.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing a state of the spreading control member when the lid member is opened.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a state of the spread control member when the film cover is completely discharged.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Instant Camera 17 Instant Film Unit 19 Film Pack 20 Pack Room 24 Lid Member 29 Case 30 Film Cover 33 Film Outlet 49 Deployment Roller Pair 55 Spreading Control Member 61 Slide Member

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A mono-sheet type instant film unit and a film cover made of a light-shielding material are housed in a box-shaped case, and an exposure opening formed in the case is light-tightly sealed by the film cover. A pack chamber in which a film pack to be closed is loaded, a lid member for opening and closing the pack chamber, and discharging the film cover and the photographed instant film unit out of the device,
An instant camera having a film discharging mechanism for spreading a developing solution on the photosensitive layer of the instant film unit and a spreading control member for controlling the distribution of the developing solution on the photosensitive layer by slidingly contacting the instant film unit at the time of discharging; In the above, the spread control member is movable between a sliding contact position where it slides on the instant film unit and a retracting position where it retracts from the discharge path of the instant film unit and avoids sliding contact with the instant film unit. An instant camera for moving the spread control member to a retracted position when the film cover is discharged. 2. The instant camera according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the extension control member to the retracted position is performed in conjunction with opening or closing of the lid member. 3. The instant camera according to claim 1, wherein the movement of the spreading control member from the retracted position to the sliding contact position is performed using a driving force of the film discharging mechanism.