Patent GB-1324705-A (GB)
Title: Photographic apparatus
IPC: G03B15/04
Filed: 1970-09-02
Abstract: 1324705 Photographic flash apparatus EASTMAN KODAK CO 2 Sept 1970 [2 Sept 1969] 41934/70 Heading G2A A photographic apparatus comprises a holder for receiving a multi-lamp percussive flash unit of the kind having a pre-energized striker for each lamp, means for sensing whether a received unit has an energized striker, and means controlled by the sensing means and responsive to the sensing of a lamp having an energized striker for positioning such lamp at a firing position. As shown, the apparatus is a camera, and the unit is a flash cube 21. As a lever 46 is rotated anti-clockwise (as seen) to wind on the film, a stud 61 thereof engages an arm 58 of a sector member 53 to rotate the latter clockwise against a spring 57a. A lug 60 engages a gear sector 55 to rotate that clockwise against spring 57, the parts taking up the broken line positions shown, with the flash cube 21 being rotated through just over 270 degrees anti-clockwise, to bring the bulb 22a slightly beyond the firing position. Rotation of the sector member 53 also moves a drive lever 63 against a spring 65 until an arm 64 of the drive lever is latched by a bar 68 in its cocked position (broken lines in Fig. 4) where it remains while the winding lever 46 and the sector member 53 are returned to their initial positions by springs 49, 57a. The spring 57 allows the flash cube to rotate clockwise until an unused bulb is sensed in the firing position. Sensing. A firing slide 71 is moved upwardly under spring action until its top is stopped by a cocked striker 30 (solid lines, Fig. 7). This results in a pin 93 of the slide 71 engaging a blocking lug 94 to prevent further clockwise rotation of the cube under spring action. If the first striker has been fired, the slide rises far enough (broken lines, Fig. 7) for the pin 93 to clear the lug 94. The firing slide 71 is cammed upwards and downwards during socket rotation by a lever 88 engaging a tongue 85 of the slide 71 and following a cam channel 87. As each fired striker is sensed, a signal flag is momentarily visible in the camera viewfinder, the flag remaining visible if all the strikers of the flash cube have been used. Picture Taking. As a shutter operating member (14), Figs.9-12 (not shown) is depressed, the latch bar 68 frees the driving arm 64 which then moves along a guide rail (103) (Fig.10), while a pin 107 of the arm 64 cams a striker blade 109 upwardly so that a hammer member 112 raises the firing slide 71 which thus dislodges the energized striker to fire the flash bulb in synchronism with the shutter opening. This upward movement of the slide 71 causes pin 93 thereof to clear lug 94, but socket rotation during firing is prevented as an ear 105 of the latch bar 68 engages a pin 106 on the socket (Figs. 10, 11). Upon release of the shutter operating member (14) the latch bar 68 is returned to its initial position thus freeing the socket. The socket now continues its clockwise rotation until either the next unfired flash bulb is sensed or until it returns to the position shown in Fig. 4. The next film winding mechanism cocks the drive arm 64 as described above, and rotates the flash cube anti-clockwise until the flash bulb 22a is again slightly beyond the firing position, whereafter the spring 57 will urge the flash cube in the opposite direction to move an operable bulb into the firing position. In another embodiment Figs. 13-15 (not shown), four separate firing members are provided, the members moving with the socket as it is rotated.