Patent · US Expired

Control apparatus for film pressure plate in cameras

US4933693A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
10References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 14, 1989
Grant dateJun 12, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 14, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG03B2217/268
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A camera is adapted for use with a film cassette in which a film spool is rotatable to unwind a filmstrip off the spool to automatically thrust a non-protruding leader portion of the filmstrip from the cassette to enable the leader portion to be propelled in the camera over an exposure opening and to a film take-up means. The filmstrip including the leader portion has a natural tendency to curve crosswise. In the camera, a pressure plate is resiliently biased to an operative position for pressing the filmstrip flat at the exposure opening. A restraining device is operated to hold the pressure plate in a retracted position sufficiently removed from the exposure opening. This permits the filmstrip to assume its natural cross-curvature in order to significantly increase the longitudinal strength of the leader portion to facilitate its being propelled over the exposure opening and to the film take-up means responsive to unwinding rotation of the film spool. When the filmstrip is taken up at the take-up means, the restraining device releases the pressure plate for movement to its operative position.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.