Easy loading mechanism for cameras

A camera film easy loading takeup spool includes a body member rotatable about a longitudinal axis past a film delivery position and a plurality of peripherally spaced pairs of longitudinal jaw members, one of each of which is swingable about a longitudinal axis between film entry opening open and closed positions relative to the respective other jaw member and spring biased to its open position and including a depending follower engaging a circular cam which closes the jaws offset from the film delivery position and permits the spring opening of the jaw proximate the film delivery position. A film perforation engaging tooth or a friction pad is carried by one of each pair of jaws and the inner ends of the jaws delineate an inner passageway of a width equal to about the film thickness. A visual indicator is actuated when any one of the jaw members is open.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to improvements in cameras and it 
relates particularly to an improved camera film loading mechanism. 
The most common type of conventional camera film easy loading mechanism is 
equipped with a film takeup spool provided with a takeup claw or claws 
located proximate the film insertion path traversed by the leader of the 
roll film, a takeup claw engaging the film to roll it up on the spool. 
However, this type of film takeup spool is provided with an extremely 
narrow film insertion slit along the insertion path, the width of the slit 
being slightly larger than the thickness of a film. This makes it 
difficult to insert the film leader into and along the film insertion 
path, resulting in a very awkward and troublesome film loading operation. 
There have been proposed a wide variety of film loading mechanisms for 
eliminating the defects of the earlier mechanisms. Most of these 
mechanisms include rotatable or swingable flap members provided on the 
spool body so that the film leader is automatically engaged by the flap 
members to be taken up on the spool body, as described, for example, in 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,337,935, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 44-16294, 
and Japanese Utility Model Laid Open Publication No. 53-139843. All of 
these film loading mechanisms require that the film leader be within the 
rotatable path of the flap members. Due to film curl or a difference in 
flexibility between the various films employed, however, the film leader 
often deviates from the rotatable path of the flap members even though 
initially set therein, thereby resulting in a film loading failure. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved 
film loading mechanism in a camera. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved camera 
film takeup spool. 
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved 
easy loading mechanism which permits highly reliable, simple and rapid 
operation and accurate film loading at all times, regardless of film curl 
or differences in flexibility between the films used. 
The above and further objects of the present invention will become apparent 
from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the 
accompanying drawings which illustrate preferred embodiments thereof. 
A film takeup spool in accordance with the present invention comprises a 
body member rotatable about a longitudinal axis past a predetermined film 
delivery position and including a pair of jaw members having confronting 
faces delineating a film passageway, at least a first of the jaw members 
being swingable about a longitudinal axis relative to the other jaw member 
between an open position providing a relatively wide entry opening to said 
film passageway and a closed position providing a relatively narrow entry 
opening and means responsive to the positioning of said entry opening away 
from said predetermined position for shifting said first jaw member to its 
closed position and responsive to the positioning of said entry opening 
proximate said predetermined position for releasing said first jaw member 
for shifting to its open position. 
In the preferred form of the improved spool a plurality of peripherally 
spaced pairs of jaw members are provided, the first jaw members being 
swingable about respective longitudinal axes between open and closed 
positions and each being spring biased to its open position and the 
cooperating other jaw members being stationary. One of each pair of jaw 
members includes a friction rubber pad or a film perforation engaging 
tooth facing the other jaw member and the means for closing the first jaw 
members including circular cam engaging followers depending from the first 
jaw members. Visual indicating means are provided for indicating the 
retracted or closed condition of all the jaw members. Advantageously, the 
inner portions of the film passageways are of widths slightly less than 
the film thickness. 
The improved film takeup spool can be easily, quickly, precisely and 
reliably loaded, and is of simple and rugged construction and of great 
versatility and adaptability.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings, particularly FIGS. 1 to 7 thereof, which 
illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reference 
numeral 1 generally designates the body of the improved takeup spool which 
includes a circular base 2, having integrally formed therewith a plurality 
of, for example, three circularly spaced vertical supports 3 of curved, 
tapered, transverse cross-section and a similar member of peripherally 
spaced vertical flaps 4 of air-foil shape transverse cross-section pivoted 
at its bottom for rotation about vertical axes at a predetermined angle. 
Supports 3 and flaps 4 form a takeup drum, around which a film is wound. 
An axial driven member 5 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as 
shown by arrow W, by a film advance mechanism (not shown) and is connected 
to the spool body for integral rotation therewith. 
As illustrated in FIG. 2, spool body 1 consists of a molded plastic unit or 
component, which includes base plate 2 and the three circumferentially 
spaced posts or supports 3a, 3b and 3c integral therewith. Supports 3a, 3b 
and 3c are each of the shape of a curved piece, and a takeup tooth or claw 
6 engageable with a film perforation is formed on the lower border of the 
curved surface of each support 3 and projects in the rotational direction 
of the spool body (in the direction of arrow W). Member 5 includes a cup 
shaped upper enlarged shaft head 7 coupled to a film advance mechanism 
(not shown) and an axial shaft 8. A triangular projection 9 integrally 
coaxially depending from shaft 8 matingly engages a hole 11 of a similar 
shape thereto formed in the center of base plate 2. Coupling wells 12 
formed in the bottom face of shaft head 7 (as shown in FIG. 3) receive 
respective mating pins 13 formed atop each support 3 for connection to 
base plate 2, which is rotated integrally with driven member 5 when the 
latter is rotated. 
It should be noted that although three each of coupling well 12 and pin 13 
are provided, the single reference numbers are used for convenience of 
description. It is also true in the following description that the single 
reference numbers may be used for parts or members related to support 3 
and flap 4 in the drawings, unless otherwise specifically stated, or 
either part or member alone may be used as representative. As is clear 
from the drawings and the description of the embodiments, however, three 
each of such part or member are actually provided therein. 
As best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the clearance S between center shaft 8 of 
the driven member and the confronting inner end faces of supports 3a, 3b 
and 3c is almost as wide as the film thickness. 
When inserted into clearance S, a film leader is caught between the center 
shaft and a proximate support. Flaps 4a, 4b and 4c interdigitate or are 
disposed between respective 3 supports, and are retained rotatable around 
respective vertical axes parallel to the rotation axis X of the spool body 
by shaft pins 14 (one of the pins being shown in FIG. 2) depending from 
the bottom of shaft head 7 of driven member 5 and bearing holes 15 formed 
in base plate 2. Each flap 4 is movable between an open position where the 
space or distance from the side of support 3 is relatively wide and a 
closed position where the space therefrom is relatively small or 
non-existant with the flap in contact with the support. Control pins 16a, 
16b and 16c depend from the bottoms of flap 4 and extend through 
respective arcuate slits 17 formed in base plate 2. A recessed or cut 
portion 19 is formed on the lower part of the movable end 18 of each flap 
4 to prevent the flap from striking a respective takeup claw 6 formed on 
the adjacent support when the flap is shifted to its closed position shown 
by the phantom line in FIG. 1. Furthermore, a recess 20 is formed in the 
lower part of the opposite end of each flap 4, i.e., a portion opposed to 
the next support in the rotational direction as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, 
and a stepped portion 21 of a shape fittable into a recess 20 is 
integrally formed on the support opposed to each recess, and the clearance 
or entrance t formed between the flap and the support is sharply angled or 
bent at the position where the stepped portion engages a respective 
recess. 
It should be noted that flaps 4a, 4b and 4c, like support 3, are curved 
pieces, and their convex outer faces in the rotational direction of spool 
body 1 constitute a cylindrical circumferential surface together with the 
supports when the flaps are at their closed position, thereby forming part 
of a takeup drum on which a film is wound. The concave surfaces at the 
inside or rear are formed so that they function as a guide surface to lead 
a film along or through clearance S between center shaft 8 and a support 3 
when the film is inserted. In additon, the film insertion path Y of an 
inserted film is delineated by one face defined by the concave surface of 
a flap and the inner end surface of a support 3 opposed to center shaft 8, 
and the other face defined by the convex surface of a respective trailing 
support 3 and the peripheral surface of center shaft 8. 
Provided at the rear face of base plate 2 on spool body 1 are three springs 
22 as shown in FIG. 6, one end of each of which engages a respective pin 
23 depending from base plate 2 and the other end of each of which engage a 
control pin 16a, 16b and 16c depending from a respective flap and 
extending through a respective arcuate slit 17, whereby each flap 4 is 
biased to its advanced position away from the support 3, i.e., towards its 
open position. A keeper plate 24 prevents the separation of springs 22 
from base plate 2, and a circular takeup indicating member 25 has sector 
shaped holes 26, through which respective pins 23 depending from base 
plate 2 and the control pins depending from flaps 4 project. As shown in 
FIG. 6, cams 27a, 27b and 27c are formed along one of the radial extending 
edges of each hole 26, and control pins 16a, 16b and 16c engage respective 
cams when respective flaps 4 are in their open position. In addition, 
formed on the circumference of takeup indicating member 25 are three 
indicators 28 colored bright red, yellow and white, which are visible 
through indicating windows 29 located on the peripheral surface of base 
plate 2 when takeup indicating member 25 is positioned at a predetermined 
angular position relative to base plate 2. A spring 30 biases takeup 
indicating member 25 in the clockwise direction about the rotational axis 
X of spool body 1. A set screw 31 extends through and secures spring 30, 
takeup indicating member 25 and keeper plate 24 to center shaft 8 of 
driven member 5. 
A control member 32 is fixed to the camera body (not shown) and a 
peripheral cam track or groove 33 is formed on control member 32. Control 
pins 16a, 16b and 16c extend through takeup indicating member 25 and 
engage cam groove 33, abutting against the peripheral surface thereof. 
Formed in the circumferential surface of cam groove 33 are recess 34 
greatly recessed radially from rotational axis X of spool body 1, open 
control cam 35 for guiding the control pins into recess 34 and close 
control cam 36 for pushing the control pins out of recess 34, as shown in 
FIG. 6. It is to be noted that control member 32 is disposed relative to 
the camera body (not shown) so that recess 34 faces toward the opening of 
a film takeup chamber in the camera body, i.e., positioned to face the 
rear cover for opening and closing the film takeup chamber. 
Considering now the operation of the camera takeup spool described above, 
the loading of the camera with a film may require the leader film F to be 
drawn from the film patrone and inserted into one of the film insertion 
paths or throats formed on the film takeup spool. As shown in FIG. 6, 
control pin 16a of the three control pins is located in recess 34 formed 
on cam track 33 of the control member, whereby the film takeup spool 
positions flap 4a integrally formed with control pin 16a in its open 
position. Recess 34, being formed at a position facing toward the rear 
cover of the camera, causes flap 4a positioned at the opening of the film 
takeup chamber, i.e., a flap exposed when the rear cover is opened, to be 
shifted to its open position. In additon, with the flap at its open 
position, its swingable or free end is greatly spaced from the respective 
support 3 of spool body 1 to effect the maximum width of the opening or 
entrance of film insertion path Y (as shown in FIG. 4), thereby allowing 
the film leader F to be easily inserted and advanced along film insertion 
path Y during film loading. The film leader F thus inserted into the film 
insertion path Y is guided along the concave surface of the flap 4a to 
reach clearance S formed on the innermost part of the film insertion pth, 
and is held between center shaft 8 and support 3c, which delineate 
clearance S (see FIG. 7). With the film advanced under this condition, 
driven member 5 is rotated counterclockwise through a drive coupled 
mechanism (not shown). With driven member 5 rotated, spool body 1 and 
flaps 4a, 4b and 4c are rotated integrally therewith in the same 
direction, that of arrow W. In contrast, however, control member 32 is 
fixed to the camera body, causing its position relative to spool body 1 to 
be angularly shifted, whereby flap 4a, initially at its open position, is 
positively moved to its closed position. That is, control pin 16a of flap 
4a abuts against recess 34 of control member 32 before the film advance 
operation, as shown in FIG. 6, However, in response to the film advance 
operation, control pin 16a starts moving counterclockwise in the direction 
of arrow W, and at the initial stage of its shift, control pin 16a is 
pushed out of recess 34 under the action of close control cam section 36, 
thereby shifting it in an inward direction toward the rotational axis X of 
the spool body. As a result, flap 4a initially at its open position is 
rapidly transferred or shifted to its closed position, thereby closing the 
opening or entrance of film insertion path Y. On the other hand, the film 
inserted into path Y is somewhat curved along the outer circumferential 
convex surface of succeeding support 3a as the spool body is rotated, and 
in additon, is pressed by flap 4a which is shifted to its closed position, 
thereby engaging the convex surface of the support 3. When a perforation 
of the film is positioned to match takeup claw 6, the takeup claw 6 
automatically engages such perforation, whereby the film is caught by 
takeup claw 6 to ensure accurate film advance, even if the film leader 
should be removed from clearance S during film advance operation. 
Furthermore, under this condition, the free end 18 of flap 4a in its 
closed position is, as shown by phantom line in FIG. 1, located above 
takeup claw 6 engaging the film perforation to overlie the film, thereby 
preventing the film from being removed from the takeup claw 6 once 
engaging the perforation. 
When a film perforation is not positioned to match a takeup claw 6 at the 
initial stage of film advance, the film will be slightly shifted in the 
direction of withdrawal from the spool body to automatically engage takeup 
claw 6 as the film advance operation progresses. This is due to the film 
advance rate by the spool body being generally greater than the film 
advance rate by the conventionally associated sprocket (not shown), since 
the diameter of the spool is larger than that of the sprocket, although 
spool and sprocket are rotated at the same angular speed upon the film 
advance operation. 
Thus, the length of the film drawn from the spool body corresponds to the 
difference in advance length between the two. As described earlier, 
however, the film is pressed by flap 4a shifted to the closed position 
against succeeding support 3a, causing takeup claw 6 to engage the film 
perforation as the film is drawn from the spool body, i.e., the moment the 
film perforation is shifted to the position of takeup claw 6. The spool 
body thereafter takes up the film, with takeup claw 6 in engagement with 
the film. Moreover, if the film drawing force is increased when takeup 
claw 6 engages the film perforation, the drawing force only stops the 
spool itself from rotating since the film and the spool are firmly 
intercoupled, as described above. Generally, moreover, there is a friction 
clutch provided between the spool body and the film advance drive system, 
so that the spool body may slip relative to the film advance drive system 
when a large load is applied to the former. As a result, the force acting 
to reverse the spool rotation is completely absorbed by the first friction 
clutch. Consequently, the film and the spool component parts are neither 
broken nor damaged, even if an excessive force occurs in drawing the film 
out from the spool body. 
Thus, the film once inserted in the film insertion path Y engages takeup 
claw 6 as the film advance operation progresses, and is reliably taken up 
on the spool. 
It should be noted that control pin 16b of succeeding flap 4b reaches open 
control cam 35 from the condition shown in FIG. 6 during the film advance 
operation to allow flap 4b to be resiliently spring urged from its closed 
position to its open position. At this time, however, since the film has 
already been to some extent wound around the takeup drum of the spool 
body, succeeding flap 4b is pressed by the film to its closed position, 
thereby preventing flap 4b to shift to its open position. 
In the meantime, when control pin 16a of flap 4a is shifted inward, in the 
direction approaching the rotational axis X of the spool body, under the 
action of close control cam 36 at the initial stage of the film advance 
operation, as described above, takeup indicating member 25, which has been 
maintained in a retracted position as shown in FIG. 6 with cam edge 27a 
pushed by control pin 16a, is released from its retracted pressed 
condition and is rotated clockwise a predetermined angle under the action 
of spring 30, whereby indicator 28 formed on the circumference of takeup 
indicating member 25 is moved into registry with an indicating hole 29 on 
base plate 2 of the spool body. When the film is positively connected to 
and taken up on the spool, flap 4b is pressed to its closed position by 
the surface of the film wound on the spool, even when control pin 16b of 
the succeeding flap is shifted to a position registering with recess 34 
formed in cam track 33 of control member 32, and as a result, the control 
pin is not shifted outward into engagement with the cam face of recess 34. 
Consequently, takeup indicating member 25 always maintains indicator 28 to 
be at an indicating hole 29, since cams 27a through 27c are completely 
free from being pushed by control pins 16a, 16b and 16c. 
If a film is not securely taken up on the spool body, control pin 16a of 
flap 4a located in its open position at the initial stage of film advance, 
as described above, is shifted inward under the action of close control 
cam 36. Even when cam 27a of takeup indicating member 25 is once released, 
control pin 16b of flap 4b is at this time guided by open control cam 35 
in response to the rotation of the spool body to reach a position shifted 
slightly outwardly where control pin 16b is engageable with succeeding cam 
27b of takeup indicating member 25. Consequently, takeup indicating member 
25 is once rotated clockwise when first control pin 16a is pushed inward 
thereby moving indicator 28 into alignment with indicating hole 29 of base 
plate 2. Since, however, the clockwise rotation of member 25 is stopped by 
succeeding control pin 16b, takeup indicating member 25 does not reach a 
position where indicator 28 registers with indicating hole 29. As the film 
advance continues, takeup indicating member 25 is rotated counterclockwise 
with cam 27b pushed back by control pin 16b when the control pin is 
advanced to recess 34 of cam groove 33. This causes takeup indicating 
member 25 to be reset again to its condition, in which indicator 28 is 
fully offset from indicating hole 29 of base plate 2. Thus, when the film 
is not properly taken up on the spool body, indicator 28 of takeup 
indicating member 25 is not shifted to a position where it is visible 
through an indicating hole 29 of base plate 2. 
Consequently, a photographer can easily ascertain whether or not the film 
takeup operation is properly performed by checking that a colored 
indicator 28 is visible through and is positioned in registry with an 
indicating hole 29, while observing base plate 2 of the spool body during 
the loading of the camera with a film. 
Furthermore, when a film is erroneously directed to the clearance or 
entrance between the surface of succeeding support 3a, and a succeeding 
flap 4a, since stepped portion 21 and recess 20 are formed respectively on 
the support and the flap, and clearance or entrance t is bent by the 
stepped portion and the recess as shown in FIG. 5, the film leader F 
cannot be erroneously inserted through clearance t. 
Any well known or conventional film rewind operation may be employed for 
rewinding an exposed film wound on the spool body 1, the film rewind 
operation gradually unrolling the film from the spool body. As the film is 
removed from the spool body, flap 4a which overlies the film leader and is 
positioned at the opening of the film takeup chamber, is shifted to its 
open position, whereby the film is released from its pressed condition 
against the support 3 to permit its separation from takeup claw 6. With 
the film completely rewound, flap 4a located at the opening of the takeup 
chamber is at the open position, as described above, where the opening of 
the film insertion path is wide open in readiness for loading a new film, 
therby facilitating prompt film replacement. 
In addition, when the film is completely rewound, takeup indicating member 
25 is shifted counterclockwise against the action of spring 30 since cam 
27a is pressed by control pin 16a of the flap 4a located at the open 
position. Therefore, indicator 28, which has been in registry with 
indicating hole 29 of base plate 2, is shifted to a position fully offset 
from indicating hole 29, thereby indicating the condition of no film being 
taken up, as shown in FIG. 6. 
In the above described embodiment, takeup claws 6 are located on supports 
3a through 3c constituting one face of the film insertion path. Even if, 
in this case, the film leader is not sufficiently advanced along the film 
insertion path, the film is pressed into engagement with the support 3 by 
a respective flap which is closed in response to the film advance 
operation, so that a film perforation is automatically engaged by takeup 
claw 6, ensuring prompt and reliable film loading at all times without any 
special attention. 
In addition, a clearance S at the innermost part of the film insertion 
path, is formed by each of the supports 3a through 3c adjacent to each of 
the respective flaps in the rotational direction W and center shaft 8 of 
driven member 5. The clearance S is almost as wide as the thickness of the 
film, so that the leading edge of the film may be frictionally engaged in 
clearance S. This prevents the film leader once inserted inside the film 
insertion path, from escaping therefrom due to the curl of the film or the 
like, thereby facilitating the film loading operation. 
Furthermore, matable stepped portion 21 and recess 20 are formed on the 
surfaces where supports 3a through 3c are opposed to succeeding flaps 4b, 
4c and 4a, respectively, as shown in FIG. 5, to form a sharp bend in 
clearance t between stepped portion 21 and recess 20, whereby to prevent 
the film leader from erroneously being inserted into clearance t during a 
loading operation. 
As shown in FIG. 2, it should be noted that cams 37 and 38 are provided on 
the top face of the peripheral wall of cam groove 33 formed in control 
member 32, cams 37 and 38 being inclined towards cam groove 33, so that 
the assembly of the spool body and the control member is facilitaed. That 
is, when the spool body and the control member are assembled, control pins 
16a through 16c of flaps 4 extending through base plate 2 of the spool 
body are required to be fitted inside cam groove 33 of the control member. 
Cams 37 and 38 guide the control pins to automatically engage cam groove 
33 when the spool body is rotated counterclockwise when placed on the 
control member during assembly, thereby eliminating any complex manual 
operation for pressing control pins into engagement with cam groove 33, 
and at the same time, allowing the rapid assembly of the spool body and 
the control member. 
With the present embodiment, clearance S in the innermost part of the film 
insertion path Y is delineated by center shaft 8 of driven member 5 and 
supports 3. However, clearance S may be formed directly by center shaft 8 
and the flaps. 
Furthermore, with the present embodiment, both clearance S and takeup claw 
6 function to engage the film leader. Either clearance S or takeup claw 6, 
however, may be alternatively provided to make film takeup operation onto 
the spool possible. In other words, when clearance S alone is formed in 
the innermost part of the film insertion path with takeup claw 6 omitted, 
a film is held by the opposing clearance faces and is taken up on the 
spool body. When the film is taken up on the spool body for more than a 
single turn, it tightly engages the spool body so that the film cannot be 
removed from the spool. Moreover, when takeup claw 6 alone is provided 
with clearance S in the innermost part of the film insertion path omitted, 
the film is pressed by flap 4 onto support 3 even if the film is not held 
within the film insertion path, thereby allowing the takeup claw 6 to 
engage a film perforation. As a result, the film is caught by the takeup 
claw and is advanced to be securely taken up and wound around the spool 
body. 
In accordance with the mechanism of the present invention, an entrance or 
opening to a film insertion path formed in a takeup spool is widely opened 
when the spool body is positioned at a predetermined rotational angle. 
This permits the quicker and easier insertion of the film leader into the 
film path as compared to the earlier spools whose opening or entrance to 
the film insertion path is extremely narrow, about equal to the thickness 
of a film, thereby facilitating film loading. 
In the embodiment described above, takeup claw 6 is provided to prevent the 
release and withdrawal of the film from film insertion path Y in order to 
ensure proper film retention. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, 
however, takeup claw 6 is replaced by other film holding means. The same 
reference numbers are used for members corresponding to the first 
embodiment to avoid the repetition of description. With the first 
embodiment, supports 3a, 3b and 3c are formed with their surfaces facing 
the direction of rotation (arrow W) of the spool body being convex. With 
the present embodiment, however, a flat face or portion 80 is formed on 
the corresponding part of each support 3, and takeup claws 6 of the first 
embodiment are omitted. On the other hand, the rear surface of each flap 
4a, 4b or 4c is formed with a flat face or portion 90 on which is provided 
a high friction elastic member 56 such as rubber or the like. When the 
flap is rotated to its closed position, elastic member 56 is located and 
dimensioned as to approach as close as possible the flat surface 80 of the 
opposing support or the outer peripheral surface of center shaft 8 and to 
be pressed thereon. In addition, each film insertion path Y is formed or 
delineated by one surface defined by flat portion 90 of flap 4 and the 
peripheral surface of the support 3 opposed to center shaft 8, and the 
other surface defined by surface 80 of support 3 and the circumferential 
surface of center shaft 8. 
In the operation of the last described embodiment, a film is inserted into 
film insertion path Y whose entrance is opened wide by flap 4a located at 
its open position, with the film leader advanced into clearance S at its 
innermost part. With the film advance operation, the spool body is rotated 
in the direction of arrow W, and flap 4a, which has been at its open 
position, is shifted or rotated to its closed position to close the 
opening or entrance of film insertion path Y, in a similar manner to the 
first embodiment. With flap 4a shifted to its closed position, the film 
inserted along film insertion path Y is pressed by elastic member 56 
against surface 80 of support 3a or the outer peripheral surface of center 
shaft 8, and is fixed thereon. Consequently, as the film advance operation 
continues, the film is advanced with its leader film held between elastic 
member 56 and support 3a or center shaft 8 to be securely and reliably 
taken up and wound on the spool. 
FIG. 9 illustrates still another embodiment of the present invention 
differing from those earlier described, primarily in that the film leader 
is more firmly secured in place to the spool body. Specifically, 
integrally provided at the tip of each flap is a claw 50 engageable with a 
perforation in the film, and on the other hand, a well or recessed portion 
51 is formed in the peripheral surface 80 of each support, the recess 
portion being shaped and positioned to be engageable by claw 50. A film F 
inserted along film insertion path Y receives claw 50 in a perforation 
therein when flap 4a is shifted to its closed position in response to the 
film advance operation, as described above. Even if a force should occur 
to draw the film out of film insertion path Y against its retention by 
elastic member 56, claw 50 would prevent the full withdrawl of the film. 
With the above construction, it is possible to securely hold the film on 
the spool body by only elastic member 56 when film F is sufficiently 
inserted along the film insertion path. When, however, the film leader is 
not secured in place due to inadvertence, the above construction is 
particularly effective in ensuring the retention of the film when, for 
example, the film leader does not reach elastic member 56 or when the film 
leader reaches elastic member 56 only to a limited extent. 
It should be understood that while in the above embodiments, elastic 
members 56 are provided on flaps 4 in order to frictionally retain the 
film leader. The present invention is not limited thereto. On the 
contrary, an elastic member 56 may be positioned on support 3, i.e., on 
the peripheral surface 80 of each support 3 as shown in FIG. 10, so that 
the retention of the film by an elastic member in a manner similar to that 
of the earlier embodiments is effected. 
In addition, the greater the contact area of elastic member 56, the higher 
the film retention force is. When part of elastic member 56 is shaped and 
positioned to engage the perforated portion of the film, part of elastic 
member 56 is elastically transformed to fit into the perforation when 
pressed against the film, thereby further ensuring the retention of the 
film. 
As in the above embodiment, an elastic member is provided inside a film 
insertion path, and one of the wall surfaces constituting the film 
insertion path is defined by a movable member which is used to press the 
film placed inside the film insertion path against the elastic member 
during the film loading operation, so that the film leader is retained by 
the elastic frictional force of the elastic member. According to the 
present invention, therefore, the film leader need only be inserted into a 
film insertion path during film loading. This eliminates any adjustment or 
manipulation of the film insertion position to match a takeup claw and a 
film perforation position essential in prior art spools which hold the 
film leader only by using a takeup claw fittable into the film 
perforation, thereby facilitating rapid film loading. 
While there have been described and illustrated preferred embodiments of 
the present invention, it is apparent that numerous alterations, omissions 
and additions may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.