Electric camera equipped with data imprinting device

An electric camera capable of imprinting data to an exposure frame of film has a first imprint mode changing switch and a second imprint mode changing switch. The first switch is operated successively to select a first imprint mode and a first non-imprint mode. The second switch is operated successively to select a second imprint mode and a second non-imprint mode. When the first switch selects the first non-imprint mode, the second non-imprint mode is automatically effected.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an electric camera equipped with a data 
imprinting device operating for reading year, month, day, hour and minute 
data from an electronic clock and imprinting to a film. 
2. Related Background Art 
A prior art camera of this kind is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application 
Laid-open No. 1-315726 (counterpart of U.S. Ser. No. 582,784 filed Sep. 
14, 1990). This camera is equipped with an imprinting device capable of 
imprinting plural digit numeric values (6 digits) collectively. According 
to the imprinting device there are four options, namely, year/month/day 
mode, hour/minute mode, year/month/day+hour/minute mode, no imprint mode, 
and each mode is changed cyclically whenever a change operation is 
performed. The year/month/day mode is that of imprinting year/month/day 
data, and the hour/minute mode is that of imprinting hour/minute data. 
Each printing mode effects imprinting one time only between an exposure 
completion and a film winding. The year/month/day+hour/minute mode is that 
of imprinting the year/month/day data and the hour/minute data to the same 
frame successively. The year/month/day data is first imprinted at the 
point in time between an exposure completion and a film winding, and after 
winding a film by 1/n frames, the hour/minute data is imprinted. The film 
is then wound thereafter. 
The prior art camera comprises an array only in the order of year, month 
and day for imprinting the year/month/day data. However, in consideration 
of a preferable construction in which arrays of month, day, year, and day, 
month, year will be realized, a month/day/year mode, day/month/year mode, 
month/day/year+hour/minute mode, day/month/year+hour/minute mode will be 
added to the aforementioned four modes, and a change operation must be 
applied a maximum of seven times for selecting a desired mode. Thus 
operation efficiency deteriorates sharply. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of the present invention is to provide a camera with improved 
ability to select a desired mode from among a multiplicity of imprint 
modes. 
To attain the aforementioned object, the present invention comprises 
providing two imprint mode changing means, one of which is provided to 
select a first data imprint mode for imprinting first data (year/month/day 
data, month/day/year data, or day/month/year data, for example), and a 
first no imprint mode for not imprinting the first data, and the other of 
which is provided to select a second data imprint mode for imprinting 
second data (hour/minute data, for example) in addition to the first data, 
and a second no imprint mode for not imprinting the second data. 
Further, the construction is such that by selecting the first no imprint 
mode on the first imprint mode changing means, the second no imprint mode 
is obtainable automatically without operating the second imprint mode 
changing means. 
The construction being as mentioned above, a desired imprint mode can be 
selected quickly, and both the first and second no imprint modes can be 
set simply by operating the first imprint mode changing means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 is a block diagram representing an electric camera in one preferred 
embodiment of the present invention. 
In the drawing, a control circuit 1 including a microcomputer controls 
operation of the present embodiment. A power source switch 2, a light 
press switch 3, a full press switch 4, a feed detector 5, a first 
imprinting mode change switch 6, a second imprinting mode change switch 7, 
an electronic clock 8, an autofocus adjuster 9, an auto exposure 
controller 10, a film winding device 11, an external display 12, and an 
imprinter 13 are connected to the control circuit 1. 
The power source switch 2 is movable between an on position and an off 
position by applying an operation thereto, and is a slide switch retained 
at a position when the operation is released after the switch is brought 
to either position. 
The light press switch 3 is turned on by depressing a shutter button (not 
indicated) deeper than a first stroke. 
The full press switch 4 is turned on by depressing the shutter button 
deeper than a second stroke which is deeper than the first stroke. 
The feed detector 5 is a device for detecting a feed amount of film coming 
from the film winding device 11 as described later. The detector 5 may be 
a well-known construction comprising a sprocket driven by engaging 
perforations of a film and a detector for detecting its rotational 
frequency, or a well-known construction of a detector detecting 
photoelectrically and counting the number of passing perforations. The 
first imprinting mode change switch 6 is turned on only when a press 
operation is applied, and first imprint modes (year/month/day mode, 
month/day/year mode, day/month/year mode, day/hour/minute mode, first no 
imprint mode) are changed cyclically whenever it is turned on. 
The second imprinting mode change switch 7 is turned on only when a press 
operation is applied, and a second imprint mode (whether or not to add 
hour/minute mode) is changed cyclically whenever it is turned on. 
The electronic clock 8 is a well-known one including a crystal oscillator, 
etc., outputting data indicating the present year, month, day, hour and 
minute moment by moment. The data are selected by the control circuit 1 
according to a set imprint mode and sent to the external display 12 and 
the imprinter 13, which will be described later. The control circuit 1 
latches the data to inhibit a change as time passes. 
The autofocus adjuster 9 includes a range finder, and drives a camera lens 
(not indicated) according to the obtained result to focus on a subject. 
The auto exposure controller 10 includes a photometer, and controls a 
diaphragm and a shutter according to the obtained result, thereby 
obtaining an appropriate exposure. 
The film winding device 11 includes a motor, and winds and rewinds a film. 
The external display 12 includes a reflective liquid crystal display 
element, and displays data sent by the control circuit 1, such as data 
from the electronic clock 8 and the like, externally on the liquid crystal 
display element. 
The imprinter 13 includes a transmissive liquid crystal display element and 
a light source for illuminating it, displays data sent by the control 
circuit 1, such as data from the electronic clock 8 and the like, on the 
liquid crystal display element, and imprints the displayed data to a film 
when the light source lights up according to photography. 
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the external display 12. In the drawing, all 
display segments are visible. Six-digit seven segments 12a to 12f display 
both year/month/day and hour/minute data. The year/month/day data is 
displayed in various selected arrays. Hour data may be displayed on a pair 
of seven segments 12c, 12d. Minute data may be displayed on a pair of 
seven segments 12e, 12f. A colon segment 12g for separating hour and 
minute is provided between the seven segments 12d and 12e. Year data may 
be displayed on a pair of seven segments 12a, 12b and a pair of 12e, 12f. 
Quotation mark segments 12h, 12i for displaying the year data are provided 
leftward over the seven segments 12a, 12e respectively. Month data may be 
displayed on a pair of seven segments 12a, 12b, and a pair of 12c, 12d. M 
segments 12k, 12l for displaying the month data are provided rightward 
over the seven segments 12a and 12c respectively. 
The imprinter 13 has segments corresponding to the seven segments 12a to 
12i of the external display 12, and is capable of imprinting images 
obtained thereby to a film. 
FIG. 3 indicates a data imprinting method on a camera when a film cartridge 
30 is loaded for film feeding in the forward direction, that is, viewed 
from behind the camera, a cartridge is disposed on the left side, and a 
film spool is disposed on the right side, thus film 31 being wound from 
left to right. The imprinter 13 is disposed on a back cover of the camera, 
and is opposite to a first imprinting domain 31b of the upper right corner 
of an exposure frame 31a brought to an exposure position. When imprinting 
is performed one time, namely, in a second no imprint mode wherein first 
data (any one of year/month/day data, month/day/year data, day/month/year 
data) will be imprinted, but second data (hour/minute data) will not be 
imprinted (hereinafter called "single imprint mode"), winding of the film 
31 is started immediately after the first data selected by the first 
imprinting mode change switch 6 is imprinted to the first imprinting 
domain 31b, and the next frame is brought to the exposure position. When 
imprinting is carried out two times, namely, in a mode to imprint 
hour/minute data or the second data to the same frame together with the 
first data (hereinafter called "two times imprint mode"), the film is 
wound by 1/n frames (1/8 frames, for example) only, as indicated below the 
film 31, after the first data is imprinted to the first imprinting domain 
31b, and hour/minute data as the second data is imprinted to a second 
imprinting domain 31c positioned on the left side of the first imprinting 
domain 31b. 
Prints obtainable from imprinting data with a cartridge loaded for film 
feeding in the forward direction, as in FIG. 3, are shown in FIGS. 4A to 
4G. FIGS. 4A to 4C indicate a print result of the two times imprint mode 
for imprinting both the first and second data to the same frame together. 
The first data imprinted in the first imprinting domain 31b of FIG. 3 is a 
year/month/day data array 40a ("'89 12 25" representing Dec. 25, 1989) 
positioned at the lower left corner of a print 40 of FIG. 4A, and the 
second data imprinted in the second imprinting domain 31c of FIG. 3 is an 
hour/minute data array 40b ("20:43" representing 20 hours and 43 minutes) 
positioned on the right side of the year/month/day data array 40a. That 
is, FIG. 4A indicates a result of the two times imprint mode (two times 
imprint mode in the year/month/day mode or two times imprint mode in the 
day/hour/minute mode) for imprinting the year/month/day data array and the 
hour/minute data array successively. FIG. 4B indicates a result of the two 
times imprint mode (two times imprint mode in the month/day/year mode) for 
imprinting a month/day/year data array 40c and an hour/minute data array 
40d successively, and FIG. 4C indicates a result of the two times imprint 
mode (two times imprint mode in the day/month/year mode) for imprinting a 
day/month/year data array 40e and an hour/minute data array 40f 
successively. 
Each of FIGS. 4D to 4G indicates a result of a single imprint mode for only 
imprinting the first data in the first imprinting domain 31b. FIG. 4D 
indicates a year/month/day data array 40g (single imprint mode in the 
year/month/day mode); FIG. 4E indicates a month/day/year data array 40h 
(single imprint mode in the month/day/year mode); FIG. 4F indicates a 
day/month/year data array 40i (single imprint mode in the day/month/year 
mode); and FIG. 4G indicates a day/hour/minute data array 40j (single 
imprint mode in the day/hour/minute mode). 
FIG. 5 indicates a data imprinting procedure on a camera when a film 
cartridge 50 is loaded for film feeding in the reverse direction, that is, 
viewed from behind the camera, a cartridge is disposed on the right side, 
and a film spool is disposed on the left side, thus a film 51 being wound 
from right to left. The imprinter 13 is disposed on a back cover of the 
camera, and is opposite to a first imprinting domain 51b of the upper left 
corner of an exposure frame 51a brought to an exposure position. In the 
single imprint mode, winding of the film 51 is started immediately after 
the second data (hour/minute data) is imprinted in the first imprinting 
domain 51b, and the next frame is brought to an exposure position. In the 
two times imprint mode, after the second data is imprinted in the first 
imprinting domain 51b, the film is wound by 1/n frames (1/8 frames, for 
example) only, as indicated below the film 51, and the first data (any one 
of year/month/day data, month/day/year data, and day/month/year data) is 
imprinted in a second imprinting domain 51c positioned on the right side 
of the first imprinting domain 51b by the second imprinting. 
Prints obtainable from imprinting data with the cartridge loaded for film 
feeding in the reverse direction, as in FIG. 5, are shown in FIGS. 6A to 
6G. FIGS. 6A to 6C indicates a print result when various two times imprint 
modes are selected. The second data imprinted in the first imprinting 
domain 51b of FIG. 5 is an hour/minute data array 60a present on the lower 
right corner of a print 60 of FIG. 6A. The data imprinted in the second 
imprinting domain 51c of FIG. 5 is a year/month/day data array 60b on the 
left side of the hour/minute data array 60a. That is, FIG. 6A indicates a 
result of the two times imprint mode (two times imprint mode in the 
year/month/day mode or two times imprint mode in the day/hour/minute mode) 
for imprinting the hour/minute data array and the year/month/day data 
array successively FIG. 6B indicates a result of the two times imprint 
mode (two times imprint mode in the month/day/year mode) for imprinting an 
hour/minute data array 60c and a month/day/year data array 60d 
successively, and FIG. 6C indicates a result of the two times imprint mode 
(two times imprint mode in the day/month/year mode) for imprinting an 
hour/minute data array 60c and a day/month/year data array 60f 
successively. Thus when the cartridge is loaded for film feeding in the 
reverse direction, the hour/minute data array is imprinted by the first 
imprinting in all the two times imprint modes. 
FIGS. 6D to 6G indicate a result in each single imprint mode for carrying 
out imprinting in the first imprinting domain 51b of FIG. 5 one time only. 
FIG. 6D indicates a year/month/day data array 6g (single imprint mode in 
the year/month/day mode); FIG. 6E indicates a month/day/year data array 
60h (single imprint mode in the month/day/year mode) FIG. 6F indicates a 
day/month/year data array 60i (single imprint mode in the day/month/year 
mode); and FIG. 6G indicates a day/hour/minute data array 60j (single 
imprint mode in the day/hour/minute mode). 
FIG. 7 to FIG. 18 are flowcharts for illustrating operation of the present 
embodiment controlled by the control circuit 1 of FIG. 1. 
FIG. 7 indicates a main routine (process) started by turning the power 
source switch 2 to ON position. 
In the first step S700, an initialization necessary immediately after a 
power supply is started is performed. 
In the next step S701, whether or not the first imprinting mode change 
switch 6 is on is decided. If the first imprinting mode change switch 6 is 
kept on, a subroutine for changing the first imprinting mode, step S702, 
is executed, but if off, the process proceeds to a step S703. 
In the step S703, whether or not the second imprinting mode change switch 7 
is on is decided. If the second imprinting mode change switch 7 is kept 
on, a subroutine for changing the second imprint mode, step S704, is 
executed, but if off, the process proceeds to a step S705. 
In the step S705, whether or not the light press switch 3 is on is decided. 
If the light press switch 3 is kept on, a subroutine for photo process, 
step S706, is executed, but if off, the process proceeds to a step S707. 
In the step S707, whether or not an exposure complete flag indicating a 
completion of exposure is set is decided, and if set, a subroutine for 
imprinting process, step S708, is executed, but if not, then the process 
proceeds to a step S709. 
In the step S709, whether or not the power source switch 2 is turned to OFF 
position is decided. If it is kept at OFF position, the process proceeds 
to a step S710, where various finishing processes necessary before 
stopping a power supply, such as resetting the exposure complete flag and 
the like, are executed, and the process is finished thereafter. In the 
step S709 if it is decided that the power source switch 2 is kept on, the 
process returns to the step S701 to repeat the above-described procedure. 
In a practical camera, a process incidental to an opening of the back cover 
or a process carried out when a power source is consumed, for example, 
will be necessary in addition to the processes described in the main 
routine of FIG. 7; however, these are not essential to the present 
invention, and hence are omitted here. 
FIG. 8 indicates a process for changing the first imprint mode, step S702, 
which is executed if the first imprinting mode change switch 6 is turned 
on. 
In the first step S800, whether or not a year/month/day mode is set now is 
decided, and if set, the process proceeds to a step S801, but if not, then 
it proceeds to a step S802. 
In the step S801, a change to a day/hour/minute mode is set to return. 
According to the change set, the seven segments 12a to 12f of the external 
display 12 of FIG. 2 and the segment 12g are kept displaying (as "25 
20:43", for example) and thus display that the day/hour/minute mode has 
been set. Further, the imprinter 13 is also kept displaying as 
corresponding to the external display 12, but the illumination light 
source does not light up. Needless to say, data displayed thereby is 
updated by an output of the electronic clock 8 as time passes. 
In the step S802, whether or not a month/day/year mode is set is decided, 
and if set, the process proceeds to a step S803, but if not, it proceeds 
to a step S804. 
In the step S803, a change to a day/month/year mode is set to return. 
According to the change set, the seven segments 12a to 12f and the 
segments 12i 12l of the external display 12 of FIG. 2 are kept displaying 
(as "25 12 '89", for example, further "M" being displayed over "12"), thus 
displaying that the day/month/year mode has been set. Further, the 
imprinter 13 is also kept displaying, except the segment 12l, as 
corresponding to the external display 12. 
In the step S804, whether or not a day/month/year mode is set now is 
decided, and if set, the process proceeds to a step S805, but if not, it 
proceeds to a step S806. 
In the step S805, a change to a year/month/day mode is set to return. 
According to the change set, the seven segments 12a to 12f, and the 
segments 12h, 12l of the external display 12 of FIG. 2 are kept displaying 
(as "'89 12 25", for example, further "M" being displayed over "12"), thus 
displaying that the year/month/day mode has been set. Further, the 
imprinter 13 is also kept displaying, except the segment 12l, as 
corresponding to the external display 12. 
In the step S806, whether or not a day/hour/minute mode is set now is 
decided, and if set, the process proceeds to a step S807. 
In the step S807, a change to a no imprint mode is set. Accordingly, the 
seven segments 12a to 12f of the external display 12 of FIG. 2 are 
displayed as "-- -- --", for example, thus displaying that the no imprint 
mode has been set. However, the imprinter 13 is kept displaying nothing on 
all segments. 
Whenever the step S807 is over, the process proceeds to a step S808, at 
which whether or not two times imprint mode is set now is decided, and if 
set, a step S809 is executed to return, but if not, then the process 
returns as it stands. 
In the step S809, the segment 12j of the external display 12 indicating 
that the two times imprint mode has been set now is turned to an erase 
state from the display state. The erasing is carried out so long as no 
imprint mode is set. Thus, a display on the seven segments 12a to 12f ("-- 
-- --", for example) indicating that a data imprinting is not performed 
and a display on the segment 12j indicating that a data imprinting is 
performed are both effected, thereby preventing users from being confused. 
In the step S806 if it is decided that the day/hour/minute mode has not 
been set now, then the process proceeds to a step S810. 
In the step S810 whether or not a no imprint mode is set is decided, and if 
set, the process proceeds to a step S811, but if not set, it returns as it 
stands. In the step S811, a change to a month/day/year mode is set. 
According to the change set, the seven segments 12a to 12f and the 
segments 12i, 12k of the external display 12 of FIG. 2 are kept displaying 
(as "12 25 '89", for example, further "M" being displayed over "12"), thus 
displaying that the month/day/year mode has been set. Further the 
imprinter 13 is also kept displaying, except the segment 12k, as 
corresponding to the external display 12. When the step S811 is over, the 
process proceeds to a step S812, whether or not a two times imprint mode 
is set now is decided, and if set, a step S813 is executed to return, but 
if not set, then the process returns as it stands. 
In the step S813, the segment 12j of the external display 12 indicating 
that the two times imprint mode has been set is returned to a display 
state from an erase state. 
FIG. 9 indicates a process for changing the second imprint mode of the step 
S704 executed when the second imprinting mode change switch 7 is turned 
on. 
In the first step S900, whether or not a two times imprint mode is set now 
is decided, and if set, a step S901 is executed, but if not set, then a 
step S902 is executed. 
In the step S901, the process returns after a change to a single imprint 
mode is set. According to the change set, the segment 12j of the external 
display 12 which was kept displaying at the time of two times imprint mode 
becomes a no-display state, thus indicating that the single imprint mode 
has been set. 
In step S902, whether or not a single imprint mode is set now is decided, 
and if set, a step S903 is executed, but if not, the process returns. 
In the step S903, whether or not a no imprint mode is set now is decided, 
and if set, the process returns as it stands, but if not set, then it 
proceeds to a step S904. Thus the two times imprint mode is prohibited 
from being set at the time of no imprint mode. 
In the step S904, a two times imprint mode is set, and the segment 12j of 
the external display 12 is kept indicating, thereby indicating that the 
two times imprint mode has been set. 
FIG. 10 indicates a photographing process of the step S706 executed when 
the light press switch 3 is turned on. 
The first step S100 is a process for changing the first data displayed by 
the external display 12 and the imprinter 13 as occasion demands. The 
operation, varying with the cases where the cartridge is loaded for film 
feeding in the forward direction or the reverse direction, will be 
described in detail later. 
When a subroutine of the step S100 is completed, a range finding operation 
and a photometric operation are carried out on the autofocus adjuster 9 
and the auto exposer controller 10, respectively, in the next step S101. 
In the next step S102, whether or not the light press switch 3 is on is 
decided, and if on, the process proceeds to a step S103, but if off, it 
then returns. 
In the step S103, whether or not the full press switch 4 is on is decided, 
and if on, the process proceeds to a step S104, but if off, it returns to 
the step S102. 
In the step S104, after a camera lens is driven by the autofocus adjuster 
9, a diaphragm and a shutter are controlled by the auto exposure 
controller 10, thus exposing the film. 
If film is exposed in the step S104, an exposure complete flag is set in 
the next step S105, and the process then returns. 
Of the first data changing process of the step S100, the case where the 
cartridge is loaded in the forward direction will be described first. In 
this case, a process of the step S100 is as shown in FIG. 11. 
In FIG. 11, whether or not a two times imprint mode is set now is decided 
in the first step S110, and if set, the process proceeds to a step S111, 
but if not, it returns, as a data change is not required. 
In the step S111, whether or not a day/hour/minute mode is set is decided, 
and if set, the process proceeds to a step S112, but if not, it returns, 
as a data change is not required. 
In step S112, the day/hour/minute data (for example, "25 20:43" indicating 
25th day 20 hours 43 minutes) displayed on the segments of the external 
display 12 and the imprinter 13 for indicating that a day/hour/minute mode 
has been set so far is changed into year/month/day data (for example, "'89 
12 25" indicating Dec. 25, 1989) to be imprinted first at the time of 
loading with film feeding in the forward direction. Needless to say, this 
year/month/day data changes as time passes, based on an output of the 
electronic clock 8. 
When the day/hour/minute mode and the two times imprint mode are both set, 
the data imprinted first is a year/month/day data which is different from 
the day/hour/minute data displayed so far; therefore the process carried 
out in FIG. 11 comprises, in short, carrying out a display change into the 
year/month/day data as the light press switch 3 is turned on. Thus, it can 
be known that at the time when the day/hour/minute mode and the two times 
imprint mode are set, the year/month/day data is imprinted first at the 
point in time when the light press switch 3 is turned on. 
Further, the time required for display change of liquid crystal display 
elements used on the external display 12 and the imprinter 13 will be long 
in the cold season; however, this may be overcome by quickening the 
display change at the point in time when the light press switch 3 is 
turned on. 
In case, on the other hand, the cartridge is loaded for film feeding in the 
reverse direction, the process for changing the first data in the step 
S100 is carried out as in FIG. 12. 
In FIG. 12, whether or not a two times imprint mode is set now is decided 
in the first step S120, and if set, the process proceeds to a step S121, 
but if not, it then returns, as a data change is not required. 
In the step S121, whether or not a no imprint mode is set now is decided, 
and if set, the process returns, as a data change is not required, but if 
not set, it proceeds to a step S122. 
In the step S122, each data displayed on the segments of the external 
display 12 and the imprinter 13 for indicating that each imprint mode 
(year/month/day mode, day/hour/minute mode, month/day/year mode, 
day/month/year mode) has been set so far is changed into an hour/minute 
data imprinted first at the time of loading for film feeding in the 
reverse direction. Needless to say, the hour/minute data also changes as 
time passes based on an output of the electronic clock 8. 
When the no imprint mode is not set, and the two times imprint mode has 
been set, since the data imprinted first is hour/minute data which is 
different from the data displayed so far, the process carried out in FIG. 
12 comprises, in short, carrying out a display change to the hour/minute 
data as the light press switch 3 is turned on. Thus, it can be known that 
the hour/minute data is imprinted first at the time when the two times 
imprint mode is set on the reverse-loaded camera at the point in time when 
the light pres switch 3 is turned on. Then, the display change is 
quickened at the point in time when the light press switch 3 is turned on, 
thereby coping with the cold season. 
FIG. 13 indicates a process of the imprinting process of the step S708, and 
the process is carried out after exposure is completed, that is, after 
returning to the step S707 of FIG. 7 upon ending the photographing process 
in the state where the exposure complete flag is set. 
In FIG. 13, each data of year, month, day, hour and minute outputted by the 
electronic clock 8 is latched within the control circuit 1 in a step 
S1300. Accordingly, data displayed by the external display 12 and the 
imprinter 13 will not change despite the lapse of time. The electronic 
clock 8 will never stop time-keeping during the period of time. Thus an 
imprinting of each data at the point in time of exposure is ensured, and 
an imprinted image is prevented from being unclear as a result of data 
changing during imprinting. 
In the next step S1301, whether or not a no imprint mode is set now is 
decided, and if not, the process proceeds to a step S1302, and if so set, 
then it proceeds to a step S1318. 
In the step S1302, whether or not a two times imprint mode is set now is 
decided, and if so, the process proceeds to a step S1303, but if not, it 
proceeds to a step S1317. 
In the step S1303, an illumination light source of the imprinter 13 emits 
light, thereby carrying out a first imprinting in the two times imprint 
mode. 
Data imprinted first at the time of two times imprint mode on a 
forward-loaded camera are as follows: 
(a) Year/month/day mode or day/hour/minute mode Year/month/day data (40a of 
FIG. 4A) 
(b) Month/day/year mode Month/day/year data (40c of FIG. 4B) 
(c) Day/month/year mode 
Day/month/year data (40e of FIG. 4C) 
On the other hand, data imprinted first at the time of two times imprint 
mode on a reverse-loaded camera are as follows: 
(a) Year/month/day mode or day/hour/minute mode Hour/minute data (60a of 
FIG. 6A) 
(b) Month/day/year mode Hour/minute data (60c of FIG. 6B) 
(c) Day/month/year mode Hour/minute data (60e of FIG. 6C) 
When the step S1303 is completed, a step S1304 is carried out next. In the 
step S1304, a second data changing process for changing data imprinted 
second is carried out. Contents of the process vary with the cases where a 
camera is loaded for film feeding in the forward direction and in the 
reverse direction. 
In case the cartridge is loaded for film feeding in the forward direction, 
the step S1304 comprises a process shown in FIG. 14. 
A step S140 of FIG. 14 comprises changing the data displayed so far by the 
external display 12 and the imprinter 13 into an hour/minute data latched 
in the step S1300. The process returns upon completion. 
In case the cartridge is loaded for film feeding in the reverse direction, 
the step S1304 comprises a process shown in FIG. 15. 
In FIG. 15, whether or not a year/month/day mode is set now is decided in 
the first step S150, and if set, the process proceeds to a step S151, but 
if not, then it proceeds to a step S152. 
In the step S151, the hour/minute data displayed on the segments of the 
external display 12 and the imprinter 13 is changed into a year/month/day 
data imprinted second. The year/month/day data is data latched in the step 
S1300. 
In the step S152, whether or not a month/day/year mode is set now is 
decided, and if set, the process proceeds to a step S153, but if not, it 
proceeds to a step S154. 
In the step S153, the hour/minute data displayed on the segments of the 
external display 12 and the imprinter 13 so far is changed into 
month/day/year data imprinted second. The month/day/year data is also data 
latched in the step S1300. 
In the step S154, whether or not a day/month/year mode is set now is 
decided, and if set, the process proceeds to a step S155, but if not, it 
proceeds to a step S156. 
In the step S155, the hour/minute data displayed so far on the segments of 
the external display 12 and the imprinter 13 is changed into 
day/month/year data imprinted second. The day/month/year data is also data 
latched in the step S1300. 
In the step S156, whether or not a day/hour/minute mode is set now is 
decided, and if set, the process proceeds to a step S157, but if not, it 
then returns. 
In step S157, the process returns after the hour/minute data displayed on 
the segments of the external display 12 and the imprinter 13 is changed 
into year/month/day data imprinted second. The year/month/day data is also 
data latched in the step S1300. 
Reverting to FIG. 13, when the step S1304 is completed, the process 
proceeds to the next step S1305, and film winding by the film winding 
device 11 is started. Then in a step S1306, whether or not a film has 
reached a terminal is decided, and if not, the process proceeds to a step 
S1307, and if so, it then proceeds to a step S1316. 
In the step S1307, whether or not winding from the start point in the step 
S1305 has reached 1/n frames (1/8 frames, for example) is decided, and if 
not, the process returns to the step S1306, and if so, then the winding is 
stopped once in a step S1308. 
After the winding is stopped in the step S1308, the process proceeds to a 
step S1309, and an illumination light source of the imprinter 13 emits 
light again, thus carrying out a second imprinting in the two times 
imprint mode. 
Data imprinted second at the time of two times imprint mode on a 
forward-loaded camera are as follows: 
(a) Year/month/day mode or day/hour minute mode Hour/minute data (40b of 
FIG. 4A) 
(b) Month/day/year mode Hour/minute data (40d of FIG. 4B) 
(c) Day/month/year mode Hour/minute data (40f of FIG. 4C) 
On the other hand, data imprinted second at the time of two times imprint 
mode on a reverse-loaded camera are as follows: 
(a) Year/month/day mode or day/hour/minute mode Year/month/day data (60b of 
FIG. 6A) 
(b) Month/day/year mode Month/day/year data (60d of FIG. 6B) 
(c) Day/month/year mode Day/month/year data (60f of FIG. 6C) 
When the step S1309 of FIG. 13 is over, film winding is recommenced in a 
step S1310. Then, whether or not a film reaches the terminal is decided in 
a step S1311, and if not, the process proceeds to a step S1312, and if so, 
then it proceeds to a step S1316. 
In the step S1312, whether or not winding from the start point in the step 
S1310 has reached 1-(1/n) frames (7/8 frames, for example) is decided, and 
if not, the process returns to the step S1311, and if so, then the winding 
is stopped in a step S1313, and the process proceeds to a step S1314. 
In the step S1314, the data displayed by the external display 12 and the 
imprinter 13 is returned to an original state, namely a state before the 
photographing process of step S706 of FIG. 7 is executed. Steps S160 to 
S167 of FIG. 16 show the process therefor. A mode of display by both the 
devices 12, 13 in each imprint mode after return is as described with 
reference to FIG. 8. Year/month/day data and others are displayed for the 
year/month/day mode (steps S160, S161); month/day/year data and others are 
displayed for the month/day/year mode (steps S162, S163); day/month/year 
data and others are displayed for the day/month/year mode (steps S164, 
S165); and day/hour/minute data and others are displayed for the 
day/hour/minute mode (steps S166, S167). 
In the next step S1315, a latch effected on each data of year, month, day, 
hour and minute in the step S1300 is released, present data provided from 
the electronic clock 8 is displayed on the external display 12 and the 
imprinter 13, and the process then returns. 
When the terminal is detected in the steps S1306, S1311, the process 
proceeds to a step S1316 to rewind a film on the film winding device 11, 
and then the process proceeds to the step S1314. 
If a decision is made that the mode working now is not a two times imprint 
mode in the step S1302, the process proceeds to the step S1317, where data 
is imprinted in a single imprint mode. That is, year/month/day data and 
others are imprinted for the year/month/day mode (40g of FIG. 4D when 
loaded forward; 60g of FIG. 6D when loaded reversely), month/day/year data 
and others are imprinted for the month/day/year mode (40h of FIG. 4E when 
loaded forward; 60h of FIG. 6E when loaded reversely), day/month/year data 
and others are imprinted for the day/month/year mode (40i of FIG. 4F when 
loaded forward; 60i of FIG. 6F when loaded reversely), and day/hour/minute 
data and others are imprinted for the day/hour/minute mode (40j of FIG. 4G 
when loaded forward; 60j of FIG. 6G when loaded reversely). 
Film winding is started in the step S1318 thereafter, and the winding is 
continued until the terminal is detected in a step S1319, or winding for 
one frame is detected in a step S1320. When the terminal is detected in 
the step S1319, the process proceeds to the aforementioned step S1316 to 
perform rewinding, and when winding for one frame is detected in a step 
S1320, the winding is stopped in a step S1321, the process proceeds to the 
aforementioned step S1315 to execute it, and then the process returns. 
In the above-described embodiment, hour/minute data is indicated as the 
second data; however, hour/minute/second data may be imprinted otherwise. 
In this case, which data, hour/minute data or hour/minute/second data, to 
imprint or not to imprint, may be selected cyclically on the second 
imprinting mode change switch. 
The imprinting of FIG. 13 is carried out after exposure is completed; 
however, the present invention is not necessarily limited thereto, and 
imprinting may be carried out, for example, immediately before exposure is 
started or during exposure. 
Further, each of the above-described embodiments comprises imprinting the 
first data including year, month, day and the second data including hour, 
minute in two times separately; however, the present invention is not 
necessarily limited thereto, and thus the first data coming in an 
alphabetical character string (such as, for example, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY", "I 
LOVE YOU", "CONGRATULATION"), and the second data coming in symbols (such 
as, for example, "!", " ") may be imprinted successively, or a numeral 
string, character string and symbols may be combined properly for 
imprinting successively. For example, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" and "I LOVE YOU" 
may be imprinted successively, or "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" and "!" may be 
imprinted successively, and further, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" and "'89 12 25" may 
also be imprinted successively. 
Data imprinted successively are not limited to two kinds, and hence may be 
three kinds or more. In such case, the number of times for interrupting a 
feed of film for a while for imprinting data second on may be increased by 
the number of kinds of data to be imprinted second on. For example, in 
case four data such as "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" "!", "'89 12 25" and "20 -- 43" 
are imprinted successively to the same frame, the feed of film will be 
interrupted three times. 
Further, data may be disposed outside of an exposure window instead of 
being disposed inside of the imprinter and the exposure window. 
Still further, the imprinter may be constructed not to imprint data for 
plural digits collectively but to imprint data successively as winding of 
the film occurs. 
As described above, according to the present invention, two imprint mode 
changing means are provided. One is provided with a function to select a 
first data imprint mode for imprinting first data (any one of 
year/month/day data, month/day/year data and day/month/year data, for 
example), and a first no imprint mode for not imprinting the first data, 
and the other is provided with a function to select a second data imprint 
mode for imprinting second data (hour/minute data, for example) in 
addition to the first data, and a second no imprint mode for not 
imprinting the second data. Therefore, the first data and the second data 
can be selected quickly as desired. 
Further, the construction is such that by selecting the first no imprint 
mode on the first imprint mode changing means, the second no imprint mode 
is obtainable automatically without operating the second imprint mode 
changing means. Therefore, both the no imprint modes can be set simply by 
operating the first imprint mode changing means.