Patent GB-1144754-A (GB)
Title: Photographic camera
IPC: G03B15/04
Filed: 1966-03-25
Abstract: 1,144,754. Cameras with flash cubes. EASTMAN KODAK CO. March 25, 1966, [June 30, 19651, No. 13222/66. Heading G2A. In a camera having a rotatable socket for receiving a flash cube, the mechanism which resets the shutter operates at the same time to rotate the socket and bring the next flash-lamp into operative position. As in Fig. 1 (not shown) the flash unit (24) is a cube of four lamps (25), whose base (26) has a centre post (28) with four retaining lugs (29). This fits into a corresponding socket (23) in the top wall of the camera (21), being releasably held there by a helical spring 54. A vertically slidable spring-loaded pin 60, having a wing top 61, engages against the centre post (28). To eject a flash unit, a button 77 is pressed inwards; a sloping ramp 78 on the button engages under pin 60 and pushes it upwards, so pushing out the unit. The indexing mechanism by which the unit is rotated includes a gear-wheel 58, which has an upper annular four wave cam surface 63. On this rests four rollers 59 mounted below the socket receiver portion 51. (A similar cam surface arrangement is provided on the lower face of wheel 58). If required, the flash unit can be grasped and rotated manually. However, the unit is normally rotated by coupling it to the shutter setting mechanism. Two upwardly urged pins 101 engage in the lower cam surface on wheel 58, and, by locating in the cam valleys, positively position the lamp socket after each indexing movement. The shutter is tensioned during the winding on of the film, by a spiral drive spring 73 secured on a rotatable drum 72. As the film is wound on, the drive spring 73 is unwound against the bias, which rotates drum 72 and hence a ratchet-driven gear-wheel 67. Gear 67 meshes with gear 58, and hence the flash unit is indexed round at the same time. The shutter is an impact blade 40, and is controlled by a driver 36 pivoting on a pin 32. In the cocked position of Fig. 6, the driver 36 is under tension because of the unwound spring 73, to which it is attached by a wire 50. When the shutter release 31 is pressed, a bent-up part 45, which was latched in front of a finger 42 of the driver 36, moves out of its path, allowing it to strike an ear 41 of the shutter 40, pivoting it so as to open the exposure aperture (dotted line position in Fig. 7, not shown). After exposure, a spring motor 34 winds on the film and re-tensions spring 73, so indexing the flash unit. A bell crank lever 85, one arm 86 of which engages a step portion 87 on pin 60, has its other arm 88 movable into the path of ear 41 of shutter blade 40. When no flash unit is present, pin 60 rises to its uppermost position. Arm 88 projects into the shutter path, limiting its movement, and hence reducing the shutter speed to a value suitable for daylight operation. When a flash unit is in place, pin 60 is pushed downwards. Step portion 87 disengages from lever 85, so that it moves out of the shutter path altogether. The shutter blade is thus allowed to move its full stroke, thereby operating at a slower speed suitable for flash operation. The flash unit is energized by batteries 90, terminals 94, 95 being in contact with lead-in wires on the unit.