Patent GB-784076-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to photographic apparatus
IPC: G03B17/52
Filed: 1955-10-17
Abstract: 784,076. Photographic apparatus. INTERNATIONAL POLAROID CORPORATION. Oct. 17, 1955 [Oct. 22, 1954], No. 29521/55. Classes 97(1) and 98(1) A light-tight housing is provided with a passage leading to interior guide means for inserting and positioning a film unit therein, and with actuating means responsive to movement of the film unit when the latter is in an exposure position to actuate an exposure means associated with the housing. Further means may be present to separate and later replace a light shielding means forming part of the film unit and to effect processing, as further described below, and the apparatus may be operable as viewer or projector for the processed result. As described with reference to Figures a camera which may be of small compact box-type suitable for a single exposure of a film unit and processing such to make a positive transparency of 35 mm. size by image transfer to a receptive element, and preferably includes means for spreading processing liquid from containing means in the unit over a photosensitive element also in the unit before exposure thereof, and may be adapted for immediate use as a viewer for such transparency, or with a light source as a projector; comprises, Fig. 1, a housing 10 with short front wall 12, side walls 14, 16. bottom wall 18, top wall 20 illustrated as broken away and rear wall 22 containing a diffusing element 98 in an aperture 96 and which is preferably removable for access to the interior; lens 40, shutter mechanism 42, and a.pair of parallel guide walls 28, 30 of which the former includes a rectangular exposure aperture 32 and the latter a viewing aperture 34 are within the housing. Behind the guide walls lies a removable light-tight shield 100. The camera may be used with film units or assemblages as described in Specifications 684,592, 730,722 or 732,420. but is depicted with a unit 46 just entering between the guide walls 28, 30 and arranged so that further projection of the unit causes part of an opaque front cover sheet 54 thereof to strip and be accommodated in curved passage 58 of guide wall 28 and causes also processing liquid to be released from container 56 by resilient pressure element 70 and spread between photosensitive element 50 and transparent image-receptive element 52. To effect exposure before processing has proceeded to any appreciable extent shutter 42 is operated as soon as photosensitive element 50 atttains exposure position by engagement of the forward edge of the film unit with portion 92 of an arm 80 leading to actuating lever 88 of the shutter. Some further details of the shutter operation are illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, not shown; and since movement of the film unit 46 is effected manually at uncontrolled speed a delay mechanism for 1/5 to 4/5 second may be present. The unit may be left in the camera for processing or withdrawn, in which case the opaque cover sheet 54 is replaced over the sensitive surface during withdrawal; and after the processing period has eLapsed receptive element 52 with the positive image removed and re-inserted into the camera for viewing, light shield 100 being withdrawn by tab 104 for this purpose. In another camera (Fig. 4, not shown), film unit 46 is provided with a leader strip to go through a curved passage corresponding to the passage 58 to the exterior of the housing and be grasped by the operator and pulled, whereby cover sheet 54 is removed and the remainder of the film unit projected into the camera, arrangements of the lower part of the camera being slightly different from that of Fig. 1 for this purpose. In a further camera (Fig. 7, not shown), the processing liquid is arranged to be spread on the photosensitive element prior to stripping of the front cover sheet 54 of the film unit by a sprung rotatable roller, which latter forms a side of a passage corresponding to passage 54 of Fig. 1 and assists in replacing the cover sheet after exposure. A still further camera (Fig. 8, not shown), has a pair of pressure rollers driven manually from the outside to spread the processing liquid, drive the cover sheet 54 into a passage of which the upper roller forms the lower boundary and drive the sensitive material into exposure position. In this case the drive mechanism may be arranged to operate the shutter, and reverse drive may eject the film unit after exposure. Specification 784,075 also is referred to.