Patent ID: 6434341
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
An orientation regularizing apparatus for a lens-fitted photo film unit having front, rear, top and bottom surfaces, said orientation regularizing apparatus comprising:a supplier for conveying said lens-fitted photo film unit aligned in one line, said lens-fitted photo film unit having one of first, second, third and fourth orientations while being conveyed, said second orientation having said front and rear surfaces exchanged with one another with reference to said first orientation, said third orientation having said front and rear surfaces exchanged with one another and said top and bottom surfaces exchanged with one another with reference to said first orientation, and said fourth orientation having said top and bottom surfaces exchanged with one another with reference to said first orientation; an orientation discriminator operative to discriminate a present orientation for said lens-fitted photo film unit being conveyed from among said first to fourth orientations; an orientation sorter, operative to sort said lens-fitted photo film unit according to said present orientation discriminated by said orientation discriminator; first, second, third and fourth conveying paths, connected with said orientation sorter, for conveying said lens-fitted photo film unit sorted by said orientation sorter along one of said paths, wherein said first to fourth orientations respectively correspond to said first to fourth conveying paths; a first front-to-rear turning unit, disposed in said second conveying path, for turning over said lens-fitted photo film unit to exchange said front and rear surfaces with one another, so as to set said lens-fitted photo film unit regularly in said first orientation; a first top-to-bottom turning unit, disposed in said third conveying path, for turning over said lens-fitted photo film unit to exchange said top and bottom surfaces with one another and to exchange said front and rear surfaces with one another, so as to set said lens-fitted photo film unit regularly in said first orientation; a second front-to-rear turning unit, disposed in said fourth conveying path, for turning over said lens-fitted photo film unit to exchange said front and rear surfaces with one another; and a second top-to-bottom turning unit, disposed in said fourth conveying path, for turning over said lens-fitted photo film unit to exchange said top and bottom surfaces with one another and to exchange said front and rear surfaces with one another, so as to set said lens-fitted photo film unit regularly in said first orientation.