Magazine camera

Claim 2

A magazine camera, comprising a housing, means forming a chamber adapted to receive a cassette containing a supply of film units in said housing, means forming a framing aperture in said chamber through which a fim unit in a cassette in said chamber can be exposed, optical means comprising a lens mounted on said housing for directing image-forming light rays onto said framing aperture, means forming a loading port in said chamber adjacent one end of said chamber on a side opposite said framing aperture and adapted to receive a cassette entering said chamber, slide means reciprocably mounted on said housing for movement between a first position and a second position, magazine means adapted to contain a supply of cassettes containing film units, means for detachably connecting said magazine means to said housing adjacent said loading port, means forming a stop on said slide means adapted to hold a cassette in said magazine when said slide means is in said first position, said stop being moved out of the way of a cassette entering said loading port from said magazine means in said second position of said slide means, a carriage frame, a pair of processing rolls, means journalling said processing rolls for rotation in said carriage frame, means mounting said carriage frame on said slide means for limited movement relative to said slide means, extractor means on said carriage means adapted to engage a cassette in said chamber when said slide means is in said first position, and to withdraw said cassette from said chamber when said slide means is moved to its second position, and guide means on said housing adapted to engage said carriage means and register said carriage means in a predetermined position relative to said chamber when said slide means is in said first position.

Claim 3

A magazine camera back, comprising a housing, means forming a compartment in said housing adapted to receive a cassette containing film units, means forming a framing aperture on one side of said compartment through which a film unit in a cassette in said compartment can be exposed, means forming an opening on a side of said compartment opposite said first side toward one end thereof through which a cassette can be inserted in said compartment, means forming an opening at one end of said compartment between said first and second sides through which a cassette in said compartment can be inserted and extracted, slide means, means mounting said slide means on said housing for movement between a first position and a second position displaced along a line parallel to said first and second sides, carriage means, means mounting said carriage means on said slide means for limited movement relative thereto, a pair of processing rolls, means mounting said processing rolls for rotation about parallel spaced axes on said carriage means, a drive gear mounted on one of said processing rolls, an output gear mounted on said housing and adapted to engage said drive gear when said slide is in said first position, motor means mounted on said housing for driving said output gear, means mounted on said carriage means and adapted to engage a cassette and advance the cassette into said compartment when said slide means is moved from its second position to its first position, extractor means mounted on said carriage means and adapted to engage the cassette in said first position of said slide means to move said cassette out of said compartment when said slide means is moved toward its second position, guide means mounted on said carriage means, and means mounted on said housing and adapted to engage said guide means when said slide means is moved to its first position for moving said carriage means to a predetermined position relative to said compartment.

Claim 4

A magazine camera back, comprising a housing, means forming a compartment in said housing adapted to receive a cassette containing film units, means forming a framing aperture on one side of said compartment through which a film unit in a cassette in said compartment can be exposed, means forming an opening on a side of said compartment opposite said first side toward one end thereof through which a cassette can be inserted in said compartment, means forming an opening at one end of said compartment between said first and second sides through which a cassette in said compartment can be inserted and extracted, slide means, means mounting said slide means on said housing for movement between a first position and a second position displaced along a line parallel to said first and second sides, carriage means, means mounting said carriage means on said slide means for limited movement relative thereto, a pair of processing rolls, means mounting said processing rolls for rotation about parallel spaced axes on said carriage means, a drive gear mounted on one of said processing rolls, an output gear mounted on said housing and adapted to engage said drive gear when said slide is in said first position, motor means mounted on said housing for driving said output gear, means mounted on said carriage means and adapted to engage a cassette and advance the cassette into said compartment when said slide means is moved from its second position to its first position, extractor means mounted on said carriage means and adapted to engage the cassette in said first position of said slide means to move said cassette out of said compartment when said slide means is moved toward its second position, guide means mounted on said carriage means, and means mounted on said housing and adapted to engage said guide means when said slide means is moved to its first position for moving said carriage means to a predetermined position relative to said compartment.

Claim 5

A cassette changing mechanism, comprising a housing, means forming a compartment in said housing adapted to receive a cassette, means forming an opening on one side of said housing through which one end of a cassette can be inserted, means forming an opening in one end of said housing through which a cassette can be withdrawn from said compartment, slide means, means mounting said slide means on said housing for movement between a home position and an extended position, carriage means, means mounting said carriage means on said slide means for limited movement with respect thereto, extractor means mounted on said carriage means and adapted to engage a cassette in said compartment in the home position of said slide means, a cassette engaging member mounted on said carriage means and adapted to engage a cassette and advance it into said compartment when said slide means is moved from its extended position towards its home position, a pair of processing rolls, means mounting said processing rolls on said carriage means for rotation about spaced parallel axes in position to receive a film unit advanced from a cassette in said compartment when said slide means is in said home position, guide means mounted on said carriage means, and means mounted on said housing and adapted to engage said guide means as said slide means is moved toward said home position for moving said carriage means to a predetermined position relative to said compartment.

Claim 6

A cassette changing mechanism, comprising a housing, means forming a compartment in said housing adapted to receive a cassette, means forming an opening on one side of said housing through which one end of a cassette can be inserted, means forming an opening in one end of said housing through which a cassette can be withdrawn from said compartment, slide means, means mounting said slide means on said housing for movement between a home position and an extended position, carriage means, means mounting said carriage means on said slide means for limited movement with respect thereto, extractor means mounted on said carriage means and adapted to engage a cassette in said compartment in the home position of said slide means, a cassette engaging member mounted on said carriage means and adapted to engage a cassette and advance it into said compartment when said slide means is moved from its extended position towards its home position, a pair of processing rolls, means mounting said processing rolls on said carriage means for rotation about spaced parallel axes in position to receive a film unit advanced from a cassette in said compartment when said slide means is in said home position, guide means mounted on said carriage means, and means mounted on said housing and adapted to engage said guide means as said slide means is moved toward said home position for moving said carriage means to a predetermined position relative to said compartment.

Claim 7

Photographic apparatus, comprising, in combination, a slide, means forming a hand grip on said slide, means forming a pair of upstanding ears on said slide, means forming an open guide slot on one side of each of said ears, means forming an aperture through one end of each of said ears, a carriage comprising a generally U-shaped frame having a pair of upstanding ears adapted to fit between said ears on said slide, a pin connected too each of said ears on said carriage frame and extending through said slots on said ears on said slide, means forming a dog on each of said ears on said carriage frame, said dogs each extending through a different one of said apertures in said ears on said slide with clearance, a pair of processing rolls journalled for rotation between said ears on said carriage plate, extractor means connected to each of said ears on said carriage plate, and a slot formed in each of said ears on said carriage plate, said slots each being adapted to engage a different one of a spaced pair of locating pins and guide said carriage plate into a predetermined relation to the pins.

Claim 8

Photographic apparatus, comprising, in combination, a slide, means forming a hand grip on said slide, means forming a pair of upstanding ears on said slide, means forming an open guide slot on one side of each of said ears, means forming an aperture through one end of each of said ears, a carriage comprising a generally U-shaped frame having a pair of upstanding ears adapted to fit between said ears on said slide, a pin connected too each of said ears on said carriage frame and extending through said slots on said ears on said slide, means forming a dog on each of said ears on said carriage frame, said dogs each extending through a different one of said apertures in said ears on said slide with clearance, a pair of processing rolls journalled for rotation between said ears on said carriage plate, extractor means connected to each of said ears on said carriage plate, and a slot formed in each of said ears on said carriage plate, said slots each being adapted to engage a different one of a spaced pair of locating pins and guide said carriage plate into a predetermined relation to the pins.

Claim 9

A carriage assembly for film processing and cassette changing mechanism, comprising, in combination, a frame, said frame comprising a metal plate having opposed ends bent normal to a central portion to form outstanding parallel ears, a pair of processing rolls, said rolls being mounted between said ears for rotation about spaced parallel axes normal to said ears, said ears further comprising portions extending normal to said axes, means forming open slots in said extending portions adapted to engage aligning pins, and said central portion of said plate further comprising a portion on a side facing said extension that extends normal both to said central portion and to said ears to form a shoulder adapted to engage a cassette.

Claim 10

A carriage assembly for film processing and cassette changing mechanism, comprising, in combination, a frame, said frame comprising a metal plate having opposed ends bent normal to a central portion to form outstanding parallel ears, a pair of processing rolls, said rolls being mounted between said ears for rotation about spaced parallel axes normal to said ears, said ears further comprising portions extending normal to said axes, means forming open slots in said extending portions adapted to engage aligning pins, and said central portion of said plate further comprising a portion on a side facing said extension that extends normal both to said central portion and to said ears to form a shoulder adapted to engage a cassette.

Claim 11

A magazine camera, comprising a housing, means forming a chamber adapted to receive a cassette containing a supply of film units in said housing, means formIng a framing aperture in said chamber through which a film unit and a cassette in said chamber can be exposed, optical image forming means mounted on said housing in position to direct image-forming light rays onto said framing aperture, means forming a loading port in said chamber adjacent one end of said chamber on a side opposite said framing aperture and adapted to receive a cassette entering said chamber, slide means reciprocably mounted on said housing for movement between a first position and a second position, reciprocating drive means connected between said housing and said slide means and operable when energized to drive said slide means from its first position to its second position and back to said first position, magazine means adapted to contain a supply of cassettes containing film units, means for detachably connecting said magazine means to said housing adjacent said loading port, a carriage frame, a pair of processing rolls, means journalling said processing rolls for rotation in said carriage frame, means mounting said carriage frame on said slide means for limited movement relative to said slide means, extractor means on said carriage means adapted to engage a cassette in said chamber when said slide means is in said first position, and to withdraw said cassette from said chamber when said slide means is moved to its second position, and guide means on said housing adapted to engage said carriage means and register said carriage means in a predetermined position. relative to said chamber when said slide means is in said first position.

Claim 12

A magazine camera, comprising a housing, means forming a chamber adapted to receive a cassette containing a supply of film units in said housing, means formIng a framing aperture in said chamber through which a film unit and a cassette in said chamber can be exposed, optical image forming means mounted on said housing in position to direct image-forming light rays onto said framing aperture, means forming a loading port in said chamber adjacent one end of said chamber on a side opposite said framing aperture and adapted to receive a cassette entering said chamber, slide means reciprocably mounted on said housing for movement between a first position and a second position, reciprocating drive means connected between said housing and said slide means and operable when energized to drive said slide means from its first position to its second position and back to said first position, magazine means adapted to contain a supply of cassettes containing film units, means for detachably connecting said magazine means to said housing adjacent said loading port, a carriage frame, a pair of processing rolls, means journalling said processing rolls for rotation in said carriage frame, means mounting said carriage frame on said slide means for limited movement relative to said slide means, extractor means on said carriage means adapted to engage a cassette in said chamber when said slide means is in said first position, and to withdraw said cassette from said chamber when said slide means is moved to its second position, and guide means on said housing adapted to engage said carriage means and register said carriage means in a predetermined position. relative to said chamber when said slide means is in said first position.

Claim 13

A magazine camera back, comprising means forming a housing, means forming a compartment in said housing adapted to receive a cassette containing film units, means forming a framing aperture on one side of said compartment through which a film unit in a cassette in said compartment can be exposed, means forming an opening on a side of said compartment opposite said first side toward one end thereof through which a cassette can be inserted in said compartment, means forming an opening at one end of said compartment between said first and second sides through which a cassette in said compartment can be inserted and extracted, slide means, means mounting said slide means on said housing for movement between a first position and a second position displaced along the line parallel to said first and second sides, first motor means mounted on said housing, reciprocating means driven by said motor means and coupled to said slide means for moving said slide means between said first position and said second position, carriage means, means mounting said carriage means on said slide means for limited movement relative thereto, a pair of processing rolls, means mounting said processing rolls for rotation about parallel spaced axes on said carriage means, a drive gear mounted on one of said processing rolls, an output gear rotatably mounted on said housing and adapted to engage said drive gear when said slide is in said first position, second motor means mounted on said housing for driving said output gear, means mounted on said carriage means and adapted to engage a cassette and advance the cassette into said compartment when said slide means is moved from its second position to its first position, extractor means mounted on said carriage means and adapted to engage the cassette in said first position in said slide means to move said cassette out of said compartment when said slide means is moved toward its second position, guide means mounted on said carriage means, and means mounted on said housing and adapted to engage said guide means when said slide means is moved to its first position for moving said carriage means to a predetermined position relative to said compartment.

Claim 14

A magazine camera back, comprising means forming a housing, means forming a compartment in said housing adapted to receive a cassette containing film units, means forming a framing aperture on one side of said compartment through which a film unit in a cassette in said compartment can be exposed, means forming an opening on a side of said compartment opposite said first side toward one end thereof through which a cassette can be inserted in said compartment, means forming an opening at one end of said compartment between said first and second sides through which a cassette in said compartment can be inserted and extracted, slide means, means mounting said slide means on said housing for movement between a first position and a second position displaced along the line parallel to said first and second sides, first motor means mounted on said housing, reciprocating means driven by said motor means and coupled to said slide means for moving said slide means between said first position and said second position, carriage means, means mounting said carriage means on said slide means for limited movement relative thereto, a pair of processing rolls, means mounting said processing rolls for rotation about parallel spaced axes on said carriage means, a drive gear mounted on one of said processing rolls, an output gear rotatably mounted on said housing and adapted to engage said drive gear when said slide is in said first position, second motor means mounted on said housing for driving said output gear, means mounted on said carriage means and adapted to engage a cassette and advance the cassette into said compartment when said slide means is moved from its second position to its first position, extractor means mounted on said carriage means and adapted to engage the cassette in said first position in said slide means to move said cassette out of said compartment when said slide means is moved toward its second position, guide means mounted on said carriage means, and means mounted on said housing and adapted to engage said guide means when said slide means is moved to its first position for moving said carriage means to a predetermined position relative to said compartment.

Claim 15

A cassette changing mechanism, comprising a housing, means forming a compartment in said housing adapted to receive a cassette, means forming an opening on one side of said housing through which one end of a cassette can be inserted, means forming an opening in one end of said housing through which a cassette can be withdrawn from said compartment, slide means, means mounting said slide means in said housing for movement between a home position and an extended position, reciprocating drive means mounted on said housing and coupled to said slide means and operable when energized to move said slide means from said home position to said extended position and back to said home position, carriage means, means mounting said carriage means on said slide means for limited movement with respect thereto, extractor means mounted on said carriage means and adapted to engage a cassette in said compartment in the home position of said slide means, a cassette engaging member mounted on said carriage means and adapted to engage a cassette and advance it into said compartment when said slide means is moved from its extended position towards its home position, a pair of processing rolls, means mounting said processing rolls on said carriage means for rotation about spaced parallel axes in position to receive a film unit advanced from a cassette in said compartment when said slide means is in said home position, guide means mounted on said carriage means, and means mounted on said housing and adapted to engage said guide means as said slide means is moved toward said home position for moving said carriage means to a predetermined position relative to said compartment.

Claim 16

A cassette changing mechanism, comprising a housing, means forming a compartment in said housing adapted to receive a cassette, means forming an opening on one side of said housing through which one end of a cassette can be inserted, means forming an opening in one end of said housing through which a cassette can be withdrawn from said compartment, slide means, means mounting said slide means in said housing for movement between a home position and an extended position, reciprocating drive means mounted on said housing and coupled to said slide means and operable when energized to move said slide means from said home position to said extended position and back to said home position, carriage means, means mounting said carriage means on said slide means for limited movement with respect thereto, extractor means mounted on said carriage means and adapted to engage a cassette in said compartment in the home position of said slide means, a cassette engaging member mounted on said carriage means and adapted to engage a cassette and advance it into said compartment when said slide means is moved from its extended position towards its home position, a pair of processing rolls, means mounting said processing rolls on said carriage means for rotation about spaced parallel axes in position to receive a film unit advanced from a cassette in said compartment when said slide means is in said home position, guide means mounted on said carriage means, and means mounted on said housing and adapted to engage said guide means as said slide means is moved toward said home position for moving said carriage means to a predetermined position relative to said compartment.

Claim 17

Photographic apparatus, comprising, in combination, a housing, a slide, means mounting said slide on said housing for reciprocation between first and second positions, means forming a compartment in said housing adapted to receive a film cassette, means forming a hand grip on said slide, means forming a pair of upstanding ears on said slide, means forming an open slot on one side of each of said ears, means forming an aperture through one end of each of said ears, a carriage comprising a generally U-shaped frame having a pair of upstanding ears adapted to fit between said ears on said slide, a pin connected to each of said ears on said carriage frame and extending through said slots on said ears on said slide, means forming a dog on each of said ears on said carriage frame extending through a different one of said apertures in said ears on said slide, a pair of processing rolls journalled for rotation between said ears on said carriage plate, extractor means connected to each of said ears on said carriage plate, a slot formed in each of said ears on said carriage plate adapted to engage a pin and guide said carriage plate into a predetermined relation to the pin, and a pair of spaced pins mounted on said housing and adapted to engage said slots in said first position of said slide.

Claim 18

Photographic apparatus, comprising, in combination, a housing, a slide, means mounting said slide on said housing for reciprocation between first and second positions, means forming a compartment in said housing adapted to receive a film cassette, means forming a hand grip on said slide, means forming a pair of upstanding ears on said slide, means forming an open slot on one side of each of said ears, means forming an aperture through one end of each of said ears, a carriage comprising a generally U-shaped frame having a pair of upstanding ears adapted to fit between said ears on said slide, a pin connected to each of said ears on said carriage frame and extending through said slots on said ears on said slide, means forming a dog on each of said ears on said carriage frame extending through a different one of said apertures in said ears on said slide, a pair of processing rolls journalled for rotation between said ears on said carriage plate, extractor means connected to each of said ears on said carriage plate, a slot formed in each of said ears on said carriage plate adapted to engage a pin and guide said carriage plate into a predetermined relation to the pin, and a pair of spaced pins mounted on said housing and adapted to engage said slots in said first position of said slide.

Claim 19

A slide assembly for a film processing and cassette changing mechanism, comprising, in combination, a frame, said frame comprising a plate having opposed ends extending normal to a central portion to form outstanding parallel ears, first and second processing rolls, means mounting said first roll between said ears for rotation about a fixed axis normal to said ears, a drive gear connected to said first roll, means mounting said second roll between said ears for limited translation toward and away from said first roll between a first position in engagement with said first roll and a position disengaged from said first roll and for rotation about axes parallel to said fixed axis, said ears further comprising portions extending normal to said axes, means forming open slots in said extending portions adapted to engage aligning pins, said central portion of said plate further comprising a portion on a side facing said extension that extends normal both to said central portion and to said ears, and resilient means extending between said frame and said second roll and urging said second roll toward said first roll.

Claim 20

A slide assembly for a film processing and cassette changing mechanism, comprising, in combination, a frame, said frame comprising a plate having opposed ends extending normal to a central portion to form outstanding parallel ears, first and second processing rolls, means mounting said first roll between said ears for rotation about a fixed axis normal to said ears, a drive gear connected to said first roll, means mounting said second roll between said ears for limited translation toward and away from said first roll between a first position in engagement with said first roll and a position disengaged from said first roll and for rotation about axes parallel to said fixed axis, said ears further comprising portions extending normal to said axes, means forming open slots in said extending portions adapted to engage aligning pins, said central portion of said plate further comprising a portion on a side facing said extension that extends normal both to said central portion and to said ears, and resilient means extending between said frame and said second roll and urging said second roll toward said first roll.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 2, in which said means mounting said carriage means on said slide means comprises an adjustable stop mounted on said slide means and engaged by said carriaGe means in a position of said carriage means relative to said slide means that is determined by the extent of adjustment of said stop, and further comprising resilient means connected to said housing and adapted to engage said carriage means as said slide means approaches said first position to urge said carriage means into engagement with said stop.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 3, in which said guide means comprise means forming a pair of guide slots in said carriage means, and in which said last-recited means comprise a pair of locating pins located on said housing in positions adapted to enter said slots in said home position of said slide means, and a second pair of stops mounted in spaced relation on said housing and adapted to engage said carriage means at different points spaced from said slots.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 7, in which said means mounting said carriage means on said slide means comprises a stop, means adjustably mounting said stop on said slide means for engagement by said carriage means in a relative position of said carriage means and said slide means determined by the extent of said adjustment, and resilient means mounted on said housing and engaged by said carriage means as said slide means approaches said first position for urging said carriage means into engagement with said stop.

Claim 24

Apparatus for use with a front camera housing mounting an objective lens and having an opening through which scene light may be directed by the objective lens, said apparatus comprising: a magazine having an opening and configured to initially retain a plurality of generally flat film cassettes in a stacked array with a forwardmost cassette aligned with said magazine opening; means for releasably attaching said magazine to the front camera housing with its opening facing but out of registry with said front camera housing opening and with said stacked array of film cassettes extending on the opposite side of the front camera housing from said front camera housing opening and generally parallel to said magazine opening; means within said magazine for urging the stacked array of film cassettes towards said magazine opening and serving to locate the forwardmost cassette at a given position laterally of the front camera housing opening when said magazine is attached to the front camera housing; a slider; means for mounting said slider for displacement between predetermined first and second positions relative to the front camera housing and said magazine and intermediate the front camera housing and said means urging the stacked array of cassettes toward said magazine opening; and means on said slider for engaging the forwardmost cassette located at said given position as said slider is displaced from its said first position into its said second position to cause the forwardmost cassette to be displaced from its said given position to another position wherein a film unit therewithin is located in operative relationship with the front camera housing opening to facilitate film exposure operations, and to cause the forwardmost cassette to be subsequently displaced from its said other position to a third position wherein it may be ejected from said apparatus, said stacked array urging means serving to automatically position the next forwardmost cassette in the stacked array at said given position upon ejection of the forwardmost cassette.

Claim 25

Apparatus for use with a front camera housing mounting an objective lens and having an opening through which scene light may be directed by the objective lens, said apparatus comprising: a magazine having an opening and configured to initially retain a plurality of generally flat film cassettes in a stacked array with a forwardmost cassette aligned with said magazine opening; means for releasably attaching said magazine to the front camera housing with its opening facing but out of registry with said front camera housing opening and with said stacked array of film cassettes extending on the opposite side of the front camera housing from said front camera housing opening and generally parallel to said magazine opening; means within said magazine for urging the stacked array of film cassettes towards said magazine opening and serving to locate the forwardmost cassette at a given position laterally of the front camera housing opening when said magazine is attached to the front camera housing; a slider; means for mounting said slider for displacement between predetermined first and second positions relative to the front camera housing and said magazine and intermediate the front camera housing and said means urging the stacked array of cassettes toward said magazine opening; and means on said slider for engaging the forwardmost cassette located at said given position as said slider is displaced from its said first position into its said second position to cause the forwardmost cassette to be displaced from its said given position to another position wherein a film unit therewithin is located in operative relationship with the front camera housing opening to facilitate film exposure operations, and to cause the forwardmost cassette to be subsequently displaced from its said other position to a third position wherein it may be ejected from said apparatus, said stacked array urging means serving to automatically position the next forwardmost cassette in the stacked array at said given position upon ejection of the forwardmost cassette.

Claim 26

Apparatus for use with a front camera housing mounting an objective lens and having an opening through which scene light may be directed by the objective lens, said apparatus comprising: a magazine having an opening and configured to initially retain a plurality of film cassettes in a stacked array with a forwardmost cassette aligned with said magazine opening; a means for releasably attaching said magazine to the front camera hosuing with its opening facing but out of registry with said front camera housing opening; means within said magazine for urging the stacked array of film casSettes towards said magazine opening and serving to locate the forwardmost cassette at a given position laterally of the front camera housing opening when said magazine is attached to the front camera housing; a slider; means for mounting said slider for displacement between predetermined first and second positions relative to the front camera housing and said magazine; and means on said slider for engaging the forwardmost cassette located at said given position as said slider is displaced from its said first position into its said second position to cause the forwardmost cassette to be displaced from its said given position to another position wherein a film unit therewithin is located in operative relationship with the front camera housing opening to facilitate film exposure operations, and to cause the forwardmost cassette to be subsequently displaced from its said other position to a third position wherein it may be ejected from said apparatus, said stacked array urging means serving to automatically position the next forwardmost cassette in the stacked array at said given position upon ejection of the forwardmost cassette, said attaching means being constructed to define the degree to which said magazine opening is out of registry with the opening of the front camera housing, and said predetermined first and second positions of said slider being selected, to locate a portion of the forwardmost cassette in overlying relationship with a portion of the next forwardmost cassette in the stacked array when the forwardmost cassette is in both its said other position and its said third position, the forwardmost cassette serving to preclude displacement of the next forwardmost cassette under the influence of said stacked array urging means when it is in its said other position and the next forwardmost cassette serving to exert an ejection force on the forwardmost cassette under the influence of said stacked array urging means when the forwardmost cassette is in its said third position.

Claim 27

Apparatus for use with a front camera housing mounting an objective lens and having an opening through which scene light may be directed by the objective lens, said apparatus comprising: a magazine having an opening and configured to initially retain a plurality of film cassettes in a stacked array with a forwardmost cassette aligned with said magazine opening; a means for releasably attaching said magazine to the front camera hosuing with its opening facing but out of registry with said front camera housing opening; means within said magazine for urging the stacked array of film casSettes towards said magazine opening and serving to locate the forwardmost cassette at a given position laterally of the front camera housing opening when said magazine is attached to the front camera housing; a slider; means for mounting said slider for displacement between predetermined first and second positions relative to the front camera housing and said magazine; and means on said slider for engaging the forwardmost cassette located at said given position as said slider is displaced from its said first position into its said second position to cause the forwardmost cassette to be displaced from its said given position to another position wherein a film unit therewithin is located in operative relationship with the front camera housing opening to facilitate film exposure operations, and to cause the forwardmost cassette to be subsequently displaced from its said other position to a third position wherein it may be ejected from said apparatus, said stacked array urging means serving to automatically position the next forwardmost cassette in the stacked array at said given position upon ejection of the forwardmost cassette, said attaching means being constructed to define the degree to which said magazine opening is out of registry with the opening of the front camera housing, and said predetermined first and second positions of said slider being selected, to locate a portion of the forwardmost cassette in overlying relationship with a portion of the next forwardmost cassette in the stacked array when the forwardmost cassette is in both its said other position and its said third position, the forwardmost cassette serving to preclude displacement of the next forwardmost cassette under the influence of said stacked array urging means when it is in its said other position and the next forwardmost cassette serving to exert an ejection force on the forwardmost cassette under the influence of said stacked array urging means when the forwardmost cassette is in its said third position.

Claim 28

Apparatus for use with a front camera housing mounting an objective lens and having an opening through which scene light may be directed by the objective lens, said apparatus comprising; a magazine having an opening and configured to initially retain a plurality of film cassettes in a stacked array with a forwardmost cassette aligned with said magazine opening; a means for releasably attaching said magazine to the front camera housing with its opening facing but out of registry with said front camera housing opening; means within said magazine for urging the stacked array of film cassettes towards said magazine opening and serving to locate the forwardmost cassette at a given position laterally of the front camera housing opening when said magazine is attached to the front camera housing; a slider; means for mounting said slider for displacement between predetermined first and second positions relative to the front camera housing and said magazine; and means on said slider for engaging the forwardmost cassette located at said given position as said slider is displaced from its said first position into its said second position to cause the forwardmost cassette to be displaced from its said given position to another position wherein a film unit therewithin is located in operative relationship with the front camera housing opening to facilitate film exposure operations, and to cause the forwardmost cassette to be subsequently displaced from its said other position to a third position wherein it may be ejected from said apparatus, said stacked array urging means serving to automatically position the next forwardmost cassette in the stacked array at said given position upon ejection of the forwardmost cassette, wherein each of the cassettes includes an end cap which must be displaced from an initial light-sealing position to facilitate the removal of exposed film units therefrom and wherein said apparatus additionally includes means fixedly positioned with rEspect to the displacement of said slider for automatically effecting such a displacement of the end cap of the forwardmost cassette as the forwardmost cassette is advanced by said slider from its said given position into its said other position.

Claim 29

Apparatus for use with a front camera housing mounting an objective lens and having an opening through which scene light may be directed by the objective lens, said apparatus comprising; a magazine having an opening and configured to initially retain a plurality of film cassettes in a stacked array with a forwardmost cassette aligned with said magazine opening; a means for releasably attaching said magazine to the front camera housing with its opening facing but out of registry with said front camera housing opening; means within said magazine for urging the stacked array of film cassettes towards said magazine opening and serving to locate the forwardmost cassette at a given position laterally of the front camera housing opening when said magazine is attached to the front camera housing; a slider; means for mounting said slider for displacement between predetermined first and second positions relative to the front camera housing and said magazine; and means on said slider for engaging the forwardmost cassette located at said given position as said slider is displaced from its said first position into its said second position to cause the forwardmost cassette to be displaced from its said given position to another position wherein a film unit therewithin is located in operative relationship with the front camera housing opening to facilitate film exposure operations, and to cause the forwardmost cassette to be subsequently displaced from its said other position to a third position wherein it may be ejected from said apparatus, said stacked array urging means serving to automatically position the next forwardmost cassette in the stacked array at said given position upon ejection of the forwardmost cassette, wherein each of the cassettes includes an end cap which must be displaced from an initial light-sealing position to facilitate the removal of exposed film units therefrom and wherein said apparatus additionally includes means fixedly positioned with rEspect to the displacement of said slider for automatically effecting such a displacement of the end cap of the forwardmost cassette as the forwardmost cassette is advanced by said slider from its said given position into its said other position.

Claim 30

Apparatus for use with a front camera housing mounting an objective lens and having an opening through which scene light may be directed by the objective lens, said apparatus comprising; a magazine having an opening and configured to initially retain a plurality of film cassettes in a stacked array with a forwardmost cassette aligned with said magazine opening; a means for releasably attaching said magazine to the front camera housing with its opening facing but out of registry with said front camera housing opening; means within said magazine for urging the stacked array of film cassettes towards said magazine opening and serving to locate the forwardmost cassette at a given position laterally of the front camera housing opening when said magazine is attached to the front camera housing; a slider; means for mounting said slider for displacement between predetermined first and second positions relative to the front camera housing and said magazine; and means on said slider for engaging the forwardmost cassette located at said given position as said slider is displaced from its said first position into its said second position to cause the forwardmost cassette to be displaced from its said given position to another position wherein a film unit therewithin is located in operative relationship with the front camera housing opening to facilitate film exposure operations, and to cause the forwardmost cassette to be subsequently displaced from its said other position to a third position wherein it may be ejected from said apparatus, said stacked array urging means serving to automatically position the next forwardmost cassette in the stacked array at said given position upon ejection of the forwardmost cassette, wherein each of the cassettes included in the stacked array includes a battery and exposed terminal means connected thereto and said apparatus additionally includes electrical contact means for extracting energy from the battery, said electrical contact means being fixedly mounted with respect to the displacement of said slider to automatically engage the exposed terminals of the forwardmost cassette when it is displaced by said slider into its said other position.

Claim 31

Apparatus for use with a front camera housing mounting an objective lens and having an opening through which scene light may be directed by the objective lens, said apparatus comprising; a magazine having an opening and configured to initially retain a plurality of film cassettes in a stacked array with a forwardmost cassette aligned with said magazine opening; a means for releasably attaching said magazine to the front camera housing with its opening facing but out of registry with said front camera housing opening; means within said magazine for urging the stacked array of film cassettes towards said magazine opening and serving to locate the forwardmost cassette at a given position laterally of the front camera housing opening when said magazine is attached to the front camera housing; a slider; means for mounting said slider for displacement between predetermined first and second positions relative to the front camera housing and said magazine; and means on said slider for engaging the forwardmost cassette located at said given position as said slider is displaced from its said first position into its said second position to cause the forwardmost cassette to be displaced from its said given position to another position wherein a film unit therewithin is located in operative relationship with the front camera housing opening to facilitate film exposure operations, and to cause the forwardmost cassette to be subsequently displaced from its said other position to a third position wherein it may be ejected from said apparatus, said stacked array urging means serving to automatically position the next forwardmost cassette in the stacked array at said given position upon ejection of the forwardmost cassette, wherein each of the cassettes included in the stacked array includes a battery and exposed terminal means connected thereto and said apparatus additionally includes electrical contact means for extracting energy from the battery, said electrical contact means being fixedly mounted with respect to the displacement of said slider to automatically engage the exposed terminals of the forwardmost cassette when it is displaced by said slider into its said other position.

Claim 32

Apparatus for use with a front camera housing mounting an objective lens and having an opening through which scene light may be directed by the objective lens, said apparatus comprising; a magazine having an opening and configured to initially retain a plurality of film cassettes in a stacked array with a forwardmost cassette aligned with said magazine opening, each of the film cassettes containing a plurality of film units of the rupturable pod self-developing type; a means for releasably attaching said magazine to the front camera housing with its opening facing but out of registry with said front camera housing opening; means within said magazine for urging the stacked array of film cassettes towards said magazine opening and serving to locate the forwardmost cassette at a given position laterally of the front camera housing opening when said magazine is attached to the front camera housing; a slider; means for mounting said slider for displacement between predetermined first and second positions relative to the front camera housing and said magazine; means on said slider for engaging the forwardmost cassette located at said given position as said slider is displaced from its said first position into its said second position to cause the forwardmost cassette to be displaced from its said given position to another position wherein a film unit therewithin is located in operative relationship with the front camera housing opening to facilitate film exposure operations, and to cause the forwardmost cassette to be subsequently displaced from its said other position to a third position wherein it may be ejected from said apparatus, said stacked array urging means serving to automatically position the next forwardmost cassette in the stacked array at said given position upon ejection of the forwardmost cassette; and pressure applying means mounted on said slider to be operably disposed with respect to the film units as they are individually advanced from their cassette after exposure and with said slider disposed in its said second position.

Claim 33

Apparatus for use with a front camera housing mounting an objective lens and having an opening through which scene light may be directed by the objective lens, said apparatus comprising; a magazine having an opening and configured to initially retain a plurality of film cassettes in a stacked array with a forwardmost cassette aligned with said magazine opening, each of the film cassettes containing a plurality of film units of the rupturable pod self-developing type; a means for releasably attaching said magazine to the front camera housing with its opening facing but out of registry with said front camera housing opening; means within said magazine for urging the stacked array of film cassettes towards said magazine opening and serving to locate the forwardmost cassette at a given position laterally of the front camera housing opening when said magazine is attached to the front camera housing; a slider; means for mounting said slider for displacement between predetermined first and second positions relative to the front camera housing and said magazine; means on said slider for engaging the forwardmost cassette located at said given position as said slider is displaced from its said first position into its said second position to cause the forwardmost cassette to be displaced from its said given position to another position wherein a film unit therewithin is located in operative relationship with the front camera housing opening to facilitate film exposure operations, and to cause the forwardmost cassette to be subsequently displaced from its said other position to a third position wherein it may be ejected from said apparatus, said stacked array urging means serving to automatically position the next forwardmost cassette in the stacked array at said given position upon ejection of the forwardmost cassette; and pressure applying means mounted on said slider to be operably disposed with respect to the film units as they are individually advanced from their cassette after exposure and with said slider disposed in its said second position.