Photographic apparatus accommodating a plurality of film packs

A photographic apparatus for use with the peel-apart type self-developing film units contained in a cassette is provided for allowing a user to take a photograph of himself and obtain the print then and there. The apparatus includes a camera back which is moved forward for urging the cassette in order to locate photosensitive sheets of film units in the cassette in position for exposure and retracted from the cassette after, say, ten exposures. The camera back is kept retracted for a time sufficient to allow automatic supplying of a fresh film pack which is the foremost one of a plurality of film packs contained in a rack. The apparatus also includes a film unit withdrawing apparatus for automatically withdrawing an exposed film unit for providing the print to the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a photographic apparatus for use with a 
peel-apart type self-developing film unit and more particularly to an 
improved photographic apparatus suitable for a stationary installed 
photographic apparatus. 
In general, photographic apparatus for allowing a user to take a photograph 
of himself with ease and to obtain it then and there is well known in the 
form of photo booths. Such photographic apparatus is widely used because 
it is easy to use and convenient. This apparatus automatically performs 
several process, including taking a photograph of the user, developing the 
exposed film unit, and providing a print, when coins are inserted 
thereinto. 
In the photographic apparatus heretofore used, it is essential to service 
the processing liquids, as by checking the composition of the liquids, 
replenishing the liquids and the like. Because it is unnecessary for 
processing liquid to be provided in the apparatus, instant photographic 
apparatus for use with self-developing film units are advantageously used. 
In this latter case, as is well known, an operation is required for the 
self-developing film unit to distribute and spread a processing liquid 
between the superposed photosensitive and image receiving sheets by means 
of pressure applying members. When leaving this operation to a user, not 
only does the user begrudge doing it, but also prints of uniform quality 
are seldom produced. Furthermore, since a film pack now on the market 
generally comprises a cassette and eight film units contained in the 
cassette, the instant photographing apparatus requires a fresh film pack 
every eight exposures, which results in an inefficient use of the 
apparatus. 
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
It is therefore a first object of the present invention to provide a 
photographic apparatus for use with a film pack having a plurality of 
peel-apart type self-developing film units, in which a series of processes 
from taking a photograph to providing a print automatically takes place. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a photographic 
apparatus for use with a film pack having a plurality of peel-apart type 
self-developing film units in which a fresh film pack is automatically 
supplied and located in position for exposure. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a 
photographic apparatus in which exposed film units are automatically 
withdrawn so as to provide prints of uniform quanlity. 
For accomplishing the above-mentioned objects, in accordance with one 
embodiment of the present invention, there are provided means for 
transferring a fresh film pack in a rack and locating it in an exposure 
position, means for urging a cassette of the film pack so as to position 
self-developing film units for exposure, and means for withdrawing the 
self-developing film unit after exposure. The urging means is adapted to 
be drawn away from the cassette every eight exposures and kept there for a 
certain time during which the transferring means is caused to push the 
fresh film pack.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to FIG. 1, shown therein is a self-developing film unit 10 
(which is referred to as a film unit hereinafter) of the peel-apart type 
which comprises photosensitive and image-receiving sheets 1, 2 mounted on 
a carrier sheet 3 which has first and second sections 4, 5. The carrier 
sheet 3 is adapted to function as a leader for connecting the 
photosensitive and image-receiving sheets 1, 2, properly registering the 
sheets 1, 2 relative to each other when the sheets 1, 2 are superposed. 
The first section 4 has a trailing end to which the photosensitive sheet 1 
is connected and on which two rupturable containers or pods 8 releasably 
holding a processing liquid are mounted. The second section 5 is connected 
to the middle of the first section 4 at its leading end and to the leading 
end of the image-receiving sheet 2 at its trailing end. A tab 7 which is 
attached to a tapered portion 6 of the first section 4 has an end 
connected to, but easily separable from, a tab of the immediately 
preceding film unit (not shown). 
An assembly of film units 10 in the form of a film pack 11 is illustrated 
in FIG. 2. The film pack 11 comprises a plurality, usually eight, of film 
units 10 contained in stacked relation in a cassette 13 which has a 
generally rectangular forward wall provided with an exposure aperture 12 
through which photosensitive sheets are adapted to be exposed and an end 
wall forming an elongated slot 16 through which film units may be 
withdrawn. The film pack 11 is initially provided with a protective dark 
sheet 14 for preventing ambient light from falling on the film units 10 
through the exposure apparatus 12. 
A film pack of this type is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 
3,899,337 issued Aug. 12, 1975. 
The film pack 11 may be loaded into a camera back having a pair of 
liquid-spreading rolls in such a way that protective dark sheet 14 at its 
leading end 15 is located between the liquid-spreading rolls. The 
protective dark sheet 14 is then withdrawn from the camera back by pulling 
the leading end 15 thereof so as to allow a foremost film unit 10 in the 
cassette to be exposed through the aperture 12. At this time, the tab 7 
having one end attached to the foremost film unit 10 projects through the 
slot 16 of the camera back exterior thereof. After the exposure of the 
photosensitive sheet of the foremost film unit 10, the tab 7 is pulled so 
that the tapered portion 6 projects through a nip formed between the 
liquid-spreading rolls outside the camera, while the tab 7 is peeled apart 
from the film unit 10, more specifically from the first section 4 of the 
carrier sheet 3. Then the tapered portion 6 of the first section 4 of the 
carrier sheet 3 thus projected outside the camera is continuously 
withdrawn so as to advance the photosensitive and image-receiving sheets 1 
and 2 between the liquid-spreading rolls in superposed relation. At the 
beginning of the advancement of the sheets 1 and 2, the liquid-spreading 
rolls apply pressure to the pods 8 to rupture them. The liquid-spreading 
rolls are adapted to distribute the processing liquid between the 
superposed sheets 1 and 2 as the sheets are advanced therebetween for 
spreading the processing liquid in a thin and uniform layer over a 
predetermined area. As is well known in the art of instant photography, 
upon withdrawal of the film unit 10 from the camera back, the diffusion 
transfer process takes place outside the camera in several tens of 
seconds. The sheets 1 and 2 of the film unit 10 are then peeled apart from 
each other to provide a desired reverse image on the image-receiving sheet 
2. 
When the superposed sheets 1 and 2 are fully withdrawn between the 
liquid-spreading rolls, the leading end of a tab 7 attached to the 
following film unit 10 is thereby caused to project through the slot 16 
outside the camera. 
Reference is now had to FIG. 3, which illustrates an automatic photographic 
apparatus 20 in accordance with the present invention which is adapted to 
use the film pack 11 shown in FIG. 2. 
The photographic apparatus 20 in the form of an automatic photographic 
machine generally comprises an apparatus for taking photographs using film 
packs 11 described above, a film unit withdrawing apparatus and a film 
pack supplying apparatus, all of which are contained in a generally 
box-like housing comprising a rectangular forward wall 27 and a similar 
rear wall, joined by side and end walls. The housing includes a door 25 
for access inside the housing. The forward wall 27 is provided with an 
exposure window with a transparent glass cover plate 21 which serves as a 
framing screen, an illumination window with a transparent glass cover 
plate 23, a coin slot 22, a ready signal lamp 26 and a film unit 
receptacle 24. 
Referring to FIGS. 4 through 7 and 9, there is shown therein the apparatus 
mounted on a panel 30 secured to the inside of the housing 20. 
The apparatus for taking photographs includes means for exposing film 
units. This exposing means comprises a lens barrel 33 which has a taking 
lens 31 and a shutter mechanism 32 built therein. The lens barrel 33 is 
secured to the panel 30, which panel is provided with an exposure aperture 
34 for allowing image-forming light to pass therethrough, positioned in 
alignment with the exposure window 21 of the forward wall 27. The rear 
surface 35 of the panel 30 functions as a datum plane for locating the 
film cassette 13 in position for exposure. For supporting the film 
cassette 13 in position, the panel 30 is provided with a cassette 
supporting member 36 and guide plates 37, 38 at the bottom of the rear 
surface 35. 
Means are provided for urging a pressure plate 47 forwardly so as to retain 
the film cassette 13 against the surface 35 of the panel 30 in order that 
the photosensitive sheets 1 will be located in position for exposure. The 
urging means includes four guide rods 39 mounted on the panel 30 for 
slidably guiding a plate 40 supporting a camera back 45. The guide rods 39 
at their rear ends hold a plate 42 fixed thereto. Between the plates 40 
and 42, the guide rods 39 are provided with biasing springs 43 coiled 
therearound so as to press forward the camera back 45 supported on the 
plate 40. The camera back 45 contains a pair of spring arms 46 adapted to 
engage marginal portions of the film cassette 13 for restricting it in 
position and the pressure plate 47 for pressing the film cassette 13 
against the rear surface 35 of the panel 30. 
The urging means also includes a motor 50 and a head 51 having a linearly 
movable rod 53 both of which are secured to the plate 42. The head 51 is 
adapted to move the rod 53 backward and, after a temporary suspension, 
forward during a one-cycle operation of the motor 50. The rod 53 at its 
forward end is coupled to the plate 40 so as to retract it only when the 
rod 53 is moved backward or drawn away. Upon moving the rod 53 forward, 
the plate 40 is forced by the springs 43 to move forward. On the other 
hand, the plate 40 is retracted by rod 53 against the action of springs 43 
to its limit position shown in FIGS. 4 and 6. 
The camera back 45 includes liquid-spreading means comprising a pair of 
pressure applying rolls 48 rotatably mounted therein. The 
pressure-applying rolls 48 are biased toward each other for applying 
compressive pressure to the photosensitive and image-receiving sheets 1 
and 2 as the latter are withdrawn so as to rupture the pods 8 for 
releasing the processing liquid and then to distribute it between the 
superposed sheets 1 and 2 in a layer of uniform thickness as previously 
mentioned. 
As means for automatically withdrawing the film unit 10, there is provided 
an apparatus shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 which includes a base 140 and a moving 
frame 142 which is arranged to be slidable with respect to the base 140. A 
shaft 143 is rotatably supported by the moving frame 142. At the central 
portion of the shaft 143, a central driving roll 144 is secured, and on 
both sides of roll 144, side rolls 145 are secured. Furthermore, on a 
shaft 146 rotatably supported by the moving frame 142, a driving roll 147 
is secured. The shafts 143 and 146 are rotated by a motor 126 through a 
gear train 148, the shaft 143 being rotated in the counterclockwise 
direction and the shaft 146 in the clockwise direction. The reverse 
rotation of the shafts 143 and 146 is prevented by a one-way clutch (not 
shown) provided in the gear train 148. On a shaft 149 secured to the 
moving frame 142, a swinging lever 150 is pivoted. At one end of the 
swinging lever 150, a driven roll 151 is rotatably mounted, while at the 
other end thereof, a pair of cam followers 153 are rotatably supported on 
a shaft 152. 
The moving frame 142 is further provided with a rotatable shaft 155 which 
is rotated by a motor 128. On the shaft 155, there are provided a pair of 
control cams 156 adapted to control the swinging motion of the swinging 
lever 50 through the pair of cam followers 153, another pair of cams 157 
being adapted to move the moving frame 142 up and down with respect to the 
base 140. Between the shaft 152 and the moving frame 142, a tension spring 
59 urges the swinging lever 150 in the counterclockwise direction. As a 
consequence, the cam follower 153 is caused to bear against the cam 
surface of the control cam 156. Since the moving frame 142 is biased 
upwardly in FIG. 6 by springs 160 coiled around the guide rails between 
the base 140 and the moving frame 142, the cam surface of one of the cams 
157 bears against one of the corresponding cam followers 162 secured to 
the base 140, thus determining the stopping position of the moving frame 
142. An arm 165 is rotatable with respect to the moving frame 142 on a 
shaft 164. Owing to the biasing force of a tension spring 168 urging the 
arm 165 in the clockwise direction, the free roll 166 is pressed against 
one of the rolls 145 and thereby driven in rotation. Such free rolls 166 
are provided at both sides corresponding to each of the rolls 145, 
respectively. 
For a description of the operation of the withdrawing apparatus 55, 
reference is now had to a timing chart shown in FIG. 8. 
An end signal which is produced, for example after a photograph has been 
taken, serves as a trigger for actuating the motor 128 so as to rotate the 
control cams 156 and 157. As a result of this rotation, the swinging lever 
150 is caused to swing in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 6 so as 
to bring the central roll 151 into contact with the driving roll 147. At 
this time, the tab 7 extending outside the container 13 (shown in FIG. 1) 
is grasped between the rolls 147 and 151, while since the control cams 157 
are also rotated through a certain angle, the cam surfaces of the control 
cams 157 depress the corresponding cam followers 162 and move the moving 
frame 142 downward against the action of the springs 160. During this 
downward movement of the moving frame 142, the rolls 147 and 151 pull the 
tab 7 while keeping it grasped between them. As a consequence, the leading 
end 6 of the carrier sheet 3 is projected from the container 13 through 
its elongated slot 16 as the tab 7 is pulled. At the lowermost position of 
the moving frame 142, the tab 7 is peeled apart from the carrier sheet 3, 
while a timing switch, which cooperates with one of the control cam 157 
through the shaft 155, produces a signal which serves as a trigger signal 
for the motor 126. As a result, the driving roll 147 is caused to rotate 
so as to impel the tab 7 grasped between the roll 147 and the roll 151 and 
to eject it from the withdrawing apparatus 55 and into a wasterbasket 71. 
The control cams 157 continue to rotate so as to move the moving frame 142 
to the uppermost position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. 
In the meantime, according to the configurations of the respective cam 
profiles, the driven roller 151 is brought into contact with and urged 
against the central roll 144 so as to grasp tightly the tapered section 6 
of the carrier sheet 3 therebetween, while the moving frame 142 is kept in 
the uppermost position. Since the roll 144 is kept rotating, the carrier 
sheet 3 is withdrawn. When the carrier sheet 3 is withdrawn to some 
extent, according to the cam profile of the control cam 156, the swinging 
lever 150 is slightly moved in the counterclockwise direction. As a 
result, the drive roll 151 departs from the central driving roll 144 and 
returns to the intermediate position. At this moment, the carrier sheet 3 
of the film unit 10 is grasped between the side rolls 145 and the free 
rolls 166. Since the free rolls 166 are urged against the corresponding 
side rolls 145 by the biasing spring 168, when the side rolls 145 are 
rotated by the motor 126, the rolls 166 follow the rotation of the side 
rolls 145. As a result, the carrier sheet 3 and hence the superposed 
photosensitive and image-receiving sheets 1 and 2 are withdrawn and 
delivered to the film unit receptacle 24. In this way, by moving the 
driven roll 151 away from the central driving roll 144, it is made 
impossible to apply uneven pressure to the image area of the film unit 
which is in the process of developing and fixing. It should be noted that 
the cam profile of the control cam 157 is formed such that the moving 
frame 142 is kept in its uppermost position as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, 
until the film unit has been withdrawn as described above. 
In this way, when the operation of withdrawing the film unit is completed, 
the timing switch 67 (shown in FIG. 5) produces a pulse signal which 
serves as an end signal for stopping the motors 126 and 128 and the 
initial position is thus recovered. This means that preparation for next 
photograph has been completed. 
As is apparent from the foregoing description, during one cycle from the 
start of the operation of withdrawing the tab to the completion of the 
withdrawing of the film unit, the control cams 156 and 157 are caused to 
rotate fully once. Since the withdrawn tab 7 exits by passing under the 
swing lever 150 and the film unit 10 over it, they can be separately 
recovered by providing respective auxiliary passages 96 and 95 and a 
deflecting blade 70 which is swung by a solenoid 69 as shown in FIGS. 5 
and 6. 
The photographic apparatus 20 also includes means for supplying film packs 
11. The supplying means includes a pair of guide rails 72 mounted on the 
panel 30. Slidably mounted on the guide rails 72 is a sliding member 73 
which is reciprocated by a crank lever 74 driven by a motor 75 as shown in 
FIGS. 4 and 5. On the top of the sliding member 73, there is provided an 
L-shaped lever 76 having a pushing plate 77 at its end and a microswitch 
78. End plates 80 and 81 which are mounted on either the panel 30 or a 
stationary structural member are provided in order to support a rack 85 
which will be described later with reference to FIG. 9 for accommodating a 
plurality of film packs 11 therein. Between the end plates 80 and 81, a 
pair of guide rails 83 are provided for slidably mounting the rack 85. For 
moving the rack 85 forward, there is provided means comprising a screw rod 
86 secured to the end plate 80 at its one end, and a motor 88 stationarily 
mounted on the top wall of the rack 85. 
As shown in FIG. 9, the rack 85 has a plurality of partitions 89 by which 
spaces are formed for the accommodation of film packs 11. Each partition 
is formed with a bent portion 90 at its lower end for the purpose of 
supporting the end wall of the container 13. The bent portion 90 projects 
only to the extent that the elongated slot 16 formed in the end wall of 
the container is not blocked thereby. As is apparent from FIG. 9, although 
both sides of the rack 85 are open, there are provided guard rails 91 and 
92 so as to prevent the film packs 11 from falling out side-wise. One of 
the guard rails, for example the guard rail 92, is swingably mounted on 
the end of the guide rail 83 in order to allow the loading of film packs 
in the rack 85. The displaced guard rail 92 is indicated by the double 
dotted line in FIG. 5. 
Referring to FIG. 10, shown therein by block diagram is the control means 
by which the photographic apparatus 20 is controlled to operate. 
The control means includes a coin detecting circuit 100 which is adapted to 
detect the insertion of coins into the apparatus 20 through the coin slot 
22 and to produce a signal which in turn is applied as a trigger signal to 
a shutter control circuit 101. The shutter control circuit 101, upon 
receiving the trigger signal, actuates the shutter mechanism 32 in order 
to make an exposure after being delayed for a certain time. A circuit 102 
is provided for detecting the completed operation of the shutter mechanism 
32 in order to provide a trigger signal which serves to actuate the 
withdrawing apparatus 55 as well as a pulse signal which in turn is input 
to a counter 105. A driving circuit 103 responds to the commencement of 
operation of the withdrawing apparatus 55 to energize the solenoid 69 so 
as to swing the sorting blade 70 to the position shown by the dotted line 
in FIG. 6 for the purpose of directing the tab peeled from the carrier 
sheet 3 toward the wastebasket 71. The counter 105 is adapted to receive 
one pulse signal every exposure and to count these pulse signals. Upon 
counting ten pulse signals, the counter 105 produces a ten-count signal 
which actuates driving circuits 107 and 108 for the motors 50 and 88, 
respectively, after being delayed for a certain time through a delay 
circuit 106. The driving circuit 107 controls the motor 50 to execute its 
one-cycle operation in which the camera back 45 is retracted and then 
advanced again after being kept retracted for a certain time. The driving 
circuit 108 controls the motor 88 so as to move the rack 85 a distance 
equal to the thickness of a cassette 13, specifically the distance between 
two partitions 89. During the one-cycle operation of the motor 50, 
specifically, during the time the camera back 45 is kept retracted, the 
driving circuit 107 produces a trigger signal which in turn is applied to 
a driving circuit 110 for the motor 75 and actuates it. As a result, the 
motor 75 executes its one-cycle operation thereby causing the 
reciprocating movement of the L-shaped lever. At the time of actuation of 
the driving circuit 110, a timer 111 is actuated to operate for a 
predetermined time. During the operation of the timer 111, the microswitch 
78, when turned on, produces a signal which is applied to the withdrawing 
apparatus 55 for its operation as well as to the counter 105 for resetting 
it to its initial value, i.e., to zero. The application of the signal 
takes place after being delayed for a certain time by a delay circuit 112. 
However, when the microswitch 78 is not turned on and produces no signal, 
that is to say there is no film pack to be pushed by the push plate 77 in 
the rack 85, the microswitch produces no signal, thereby actuating a 
warning circuit 113 so as to energize a warning device 114 such as a lamp, 
a buzzer of the like. 
The sequential operation of the photographic apparatus 20 according to the 
present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 11. 
When the coin detecting circuit 100 detects that coins have been inserted 
into the photographic apparatus 20 through the coin slot 22, the shutter 
mechanism 32 is actuated through the shutter control circuit 101 after 
being delayed for a certain time for exposing a first sheet of the 
photosensitive sheets 1 in the exposure aperture 12. After exposure, the 
trigger signal is applied to the withdrawing apparatus 55, followed by the 
energization of the solenoid 69 through the driving circuit 103. As a 
result, moving frame 142 is moved downwardly whilst the tab 7 is grasped 
between the driving roll 147 and driven roll 151 so as to withdraw and 
peel the tab 7 from the carrier sheet 3. Since the sorting blade 70 has 
been moved to the position shown by the dotted line in FIG. 6, the peeled 
tab 7 falls into the wastebasket 71. During the further downward movement 
of the moving frame 142, the sorting blade 70 returns to the initial 
position shown by the solid line in FIG. 6. As is apparent from the 
foregoing description, the moving frame 142 withdraws the film unit from 
the cassette 13, while the liquid spreading rolls 48 spread the processing 
liquid between the superposed sheets 1 and 2 as the sheets are advanced 
therebetween. The film unit 10 thus withdrawn is delivered to the film 
unit receptacle 24 for retrieval by the customer. 
The above-mentioned operation is repeated nine times. However, when the 
tenth exposure is made, as determined by the counter 105, the driving 
circuits 107 and 108 are actuated after being delayed for a certain time 
sufficient to withdraw the tenth film unit 10, by the delay circuit 106. 
As a consequence, the motor 50 is driven so that the plate 42 supporting 
the camera back 45 is drawn back whilst leaving the cassette 13 on the 
supporting member 36. Simultaneously, the motor 88 is driven so as to move 
the rack 85 forward in order to locate the forwardmost fresh cassette 13 
in alignment with the guide plate 37. 
Whilst the motor 50 keeps the plate 40 and hence the camera back 45 
retracted, the driving circuit 107 actuates the driving circuit 110 for 
driving the motor 75 in order to reciprocate the L-shaped lever 76. As a 
result of this reciprocating movement, a fresh cassette is located on the 
supporting member 36, whilst the used cassette on the supporting member 36 
is pushed to the guide plate 38 and then discharged into the wastebasket 
71. After the film cassette changing operation, the motor 50 is redriven 
so as to move the camera forward again, thereby stressing the leaf springs 
46 and pressing the pressure plate 47 against the fresh cassette 13 
thereby locating it in the exposure position. 
In the meantime, when the film cassette changing operation is effected, the 
microswitch 78 is brought into contact with the side wall of the cassette 
in the rack 85 to produce a signal which is applied to the counter 105 as 
well as to the withdrawing apparatus 55 after being delayed by the delay 
circuit 112 for a certain time sufficient to locate the fresh cassette 13 
in the exposure position. As a result, the counter 105 is reset and the 
withdrawing apparatus 55 is actuated so as to withdraw a protective dark 
sheet 15 of the fresh film pack 11 in preparation for another exposure. 
On the other hand, since the microswitch 78 produces no signal when the 
rack 85 contains no film pack 11 at all, the warning means 114 gives a 
warning which indicates the need to fill the rack 85 with fresh film packs 
11. 
In the photographic apparatus described above, cams and/or link mechanisms 
may be provided between the motors 50, 75 and 88 and their cooperating 
members for moving the cooperating members in desired directions. For 
sequentially driving the motors 50, 75 and 88, not only may the driving 
circuits for the motors be controlled by a microcomputer, but also there 
may be provided microswitches actuated by the members cooperating with the 
respective motors. Furthermore, the coin detectng circuit may be replaced 
by a general shutter releasing mechanism, which makes it possible to apply 
this invention to any type of photographic apparatus for use with 
peel-apart type self-developing film units.