Patent Document

This is a continuation application of Ser. No. 08/791,528, filed Jan. 30, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,112. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention pertains to a camera, and more particularly, to a camera that is capable of both feeding a long strip of film that is housed in a cartridge in a wound-up fashion and rewinding said film. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In recent years, an advanced photograph system camera has been developed. This advanced photograph system camera is characterized in that it uses a film cartridge that is capable of both feeding a long strip of film that is housed in said cartridge in a wound-up fashion and rewinding said film. It has electric components such as a battery or condenser housed in its body. 
     In conventional cameras, a battery or condenser is located in the grip area or below the lens mount such that it is aligned in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis. 
     However, if a construction is employed in which the battery or condenser is located in the grip area, or if they are placed below the lens mount such that they are aligned in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, particularly in a zoom lens camera employing a cylindrical lens mount, the advanced photograph system camera will increase in size. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a camera that can house a battery or condenser without an increase in size. 
     In order to attain the object described above, the present invention comprises a camera that is capable of both feeding a long strip of film that is housed in a cartridge in a wound-up fashion and rewinding said film, wherein a battery is placed above or below the film conveyance path between the cartridge bay and the spool bay such that its axis is essentially parallel to the optical axis. 
     The present invention also comprises a camera that uses a film cartridge that is capable of both feeding a long strip of film that is housed in said cartridge in a wound-up fashion and rewinding said film, wherein a condenser is placed above or below the film conveyance path between the cartridge bay and the spool bay such that its axis is substantially parallel to the optical axis. 
     These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate specific embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of important parts of the first embodiment of the camera pertaining to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the camera shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the camera shown in FIG. 1 seen from the rear side. 
     FIG. 4 is a plan view of important parts of the second embodiment of the camera pertaining to the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the camera shown in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a plan view of important parts of the third embodiment of the camera pertaining to the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the camera shown in FIG.  6 . 
     FIG. 8 is a plan view of important parts of the fourth embodiment of the camera pertaining to the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a front elevation view of the camera shown in FIG.  8 . 
     FIG. 10 is a plan view important parts of the fifth embodiment of the camera pertaining to the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of the camera shown in FIG.  10 . 
     FIG. 12 is a plan view important parts of the sixth embodiment of the camera pertaining to the present invention. 
     FIG. 13 is a front elevation view of the camera shown in FIG.  12 . 
     FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment seen from the bottom side. 
    
    
     In the following description, like parts are designated by like reference numbers throughout the several drawings. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The embodiments of the camera pertaining to the present invention are explained below with reference to the attached drawings. The same numbers are used for the identical components and areas in each embodiment. 
     The first embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 through 3. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, advanced photograph system camera body  1  is equipped with cylindrical lens mount  2 , cartridge bay  3  and spool bay  4  that are located to the left and right of lens mount  2 , respectively, film conveyance path  5  located behind lens mount  2 , battery  6 , zoom motor  7 , condenser  9 , feeding motor  10  and feeding reducer  11  situated below film conveyance path  5 , cartridge drive unit  15 , block  16  comprising a finder, etc., and flash unit  17 . 
     Cartridge bay  3  and spool bay  4  are substantially cylindrical. Their axes are substantially perpendicular to optical axis L of camera body  1 . Cartridge bay  3  and spool bay  4  are connected via film conveyance path  5 . Rectangular screen frame  5   a  is formed on film conveyance path  5  on the side of the lens mount. Screen frame  5   a  is set to be substantially equal in size to the film frame. It is necessary to design the inner diameter of lens mount  2  so that it is larger than the diagonal length of screen frame  5   a , such that the light rays for photo-taking are not interrupted. Consequently, there is some space between the lower edge (or the upper edge) of film conveyance path  5  and the lower edge (or the upper edge) of lens mount  2 . Since the difference between the film frame diagonal length and the width of the film in an advanced photograph system camera is larger than in the case of conventional  135  film, this space is larger accordingly. Film conveyance path  5  is perpendicular to optical axis L. In conventional  135  film, since the ratio of the film width to the film frame diagonal length is large, said space when  135  film is used is smaller than in an advanced photograph system camera. 
     Cylindrical battery  6  is placed below film conveyance path  5  and toward spool bay  4  such that its axis is substantially parallel to optical axis L. This battery  6  is used as the power supply for motors  7  and  10 , flash unit  17 , etc. Zoom motor  7  is, together with zoom reducer  8 , placed below film conveyance path  5  and toward cartridge bay  3  such that its rotational drive shaft is substantially parallel to optical axis L. This zoom motor  7  is used to move the camera lens, which is not shown in the drawings, along the optical axis. 
     Cylindrical condenser  9  is placed between lens mount  2  and cartridge bay  3  such that its axis is substantially perpendicular to optical axis L. This condenser  9  is used to apply a high voltage to flash unit  17 , etc. Feeding motor  10  is inserted, together with cylindrical feeding reducer  11 , into hollow shaft  4   a  in spool bay  4  such that its rotational drive shaft is substantially perpendicular to optical axis L. This feeding motor  10  is used to feed and rewind the film. 
     Cartridge drive unit  15  is placed above cartridge bay  3 . This cartridge drive unit  15  is a device to open and close the light-shielding door on film cartridge  30  described below, for the purpose of preventing exposure of the film. Block  16  comprising a finder, AF (auto-focus) control circuit, AE (auto-exposure) control circuit, etc., is located above film conveyance path  5 . Flash unit  17  is located above spool bay  4 . 
     Film cartridge  30  is loaded in the camera by opening a cartridge cover (not shown in the drawings) at the bottom of camera body  1  and inserting the cartridge into cartridge bay  3  in the direction of arrow B. Therefore, unlike the construction of a conventional camera body which has on its back side a wide-area rear cover for the purpose of film loading, camera body  1  does not have a wide area rear cover on its back side. Film cartridge  30  houses a wound long strip of film in its cylindrical housing compartment. The film may be fed out of the outlet/inlet that protrudes from the cylindrical surface of the housing compartment by means of feeding motor  10  which works as the drive source, and may move along film conveyance path  5  in the direction of arrow A. It may also be rewound along film conveyance path  5  in the direction opposite to the direction of arrow A. The film that is fed out and exposed is housed in spool bay  4 . 
     Battery  6  is loaded in the battery compartment by rotating and removing battery cover  26  on the back side of camera body  1  and inserting the battery in the direction of arrow C. In FIG. 3,  25  is a finder eyepiece and  27  is a release button. 
     Advanced photograph system camera body  1  of the construction described above has battery  6  and zoom motor  7  below film conveyance path  5  between cartridge bay  3  and spool bay  4  such that their axes are substantially parallel to optical axis L, and therefore the empty space below film conveyance path  5  may be effectively utilized and an increase in the size of camera body  1  may be prevented. Further, because condenser  9  is located between lens mount  2  and cartridge bay  3 , the empty space between lens mount  2  and cartridge bay  3  may also be effectively utilized, and an increase in the size of camera body  1 —in width in particular—may be further prevented. 
     The second embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, advanced photograph system camera body  41  has the same construction as advanced photograph system camera body  1  of the first embodiment except that the location of condenser  9  and the locations of feeding motor  10  and feeding reducer  11  are exchanged. In other words, cylindrical condenser  9  is inserted in hollow shaft  4   a  in spool bay  4  such that its axis is substantially perpendicular to optical axis L. Feeding motor  10  is placed, together with cylindrical feeding reducer  11 , between lens mount  2  and cartridge bay  3  such that its rotational drive shaft is substantially perpendicular to optical axis L. 
     Advanced photograph system camera body  41  of the construction described above has battery  6  and zoom motor  7  below film conveyance path  5  between cartridge bay  3  and spool bay  4  such that their axes are substantially parallel to optical axis L, and therefore the empty space below film conveyance path  5  may be effectively utilized and an increase in the size of camera body  41  may be prevented. Further, because feeding motor  10  and feeding reducer  11  are located between lens mount  2  and cartridge bay  3 , the empty space between lens mount  2  and cartridge bay  3  may also be effectively utilized, and an increase in the size of camera body  41 —in width in particular—may be further prevented. 
     The third embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. 
     As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, advanced photography system camera body  51  has substantially the same construction as advanced photograph system camera body  1  of the first embodiment except with respect to cylindrical battery  6 , zoom motor  7 , zoom reducer  53  and condenser  52 . 
     Battery  6  is located below film conveyance path  5  and toward cartridge bay  3  such that its axis is substantially parallel to optical axis L. Zoom motor  7  is located, together with zoom reducer  53 , between lens mount  2  and cartridge bay  3  such that its rotational drive shaft is substantially perpendicular to optical axis L. Condenser  52  is cylindrical, and it is desirable that its length be shorter than that of condenser  9  incorporated in advanced photograph system camera body  1  of the first embodiment described above, as this allows camera body  51  to be made thin. Condenser  52  is located below film conveyance path  5  and toward spool bay  4  such that its axis is substantially parallel to optical axis L. 
     Advance photograph system camera body  51  of the construction described above has battery  6  and condenser  52  below film conveyance path  5  between cartridge bay  3  and spool bay  4  such that their axes are substantially parallel to optical axis L, and therefore the empty space below film conveyance path  5  may be effectively utilized and an increase in the size of camera body  51  may be prevented. Further, since zoom motor  7  and zoom reducer  53  are located between lens mount  2  and cartridge bay  3 , the empty space between lens mount  2  and cartridge bay  3  may also be effectively utilized, and an increase in the size of camera body  51 —in width in particular—may be further prevented. 
     The fourth embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. 
     As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the advanced photograph system camera body  55  has the same construction as the advanced photograph system camera body  1  of the first embodiment, except for the number of the battery. 
     A cylindrical battery  56  is placed below the spook bay  4  such that its axis is substantially parallel to the optical axis L. The batteries  6  and  56  are of a different size. The battery  56  is disposed in the opposite direction to the battery  6 . The length of the batteries  6 ,  56  in their axis direction is longer than a diameter of the batteries  6 ,  56  and shorter than twice the diameter of the batteries  6 ,  56 . 
     The fifth embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 10 and 11. 
     As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the advanced photograph system camera body  61  has the same construction as the advanced photograph system camera body  41  of the second embodiment, except for the number of the battery. 
     A cylindrical battery  56  is placed below the spool bay  4  such that its axis is substantially parallel to optical axis L. 
     The batteries  6  and  56  are of a different size, as described above. The battery  56  is disposed in the opposite direction to the battery  6 . 
     The sixth embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. 
     As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the advanced photograph system camera body  65  has the same construction as advanced photograph system camera body  51  of the third embodiment, except for the number of the battery. 
     A cylindrical battery  56  is placed below the spool bay  4  such that its axis is substantially parallel to optical axis L. 
     The batteries  6  and  56  are of a different size, as explained above, and the battery  56  is disposed in the opposite direction to the battery  6 . 
     The camera pertaining to the present invention is not limited to these embodiments explained above. It may vary within the range of the essence of the invention. 
     It is acceptable if battery cover  81  is located at the bottom of the camera body so that a battery may be loaded in the camera via the opening of this battery cover  81 , as shown in FIG. 14. 82 is a finder and  83  is a cartridge cover. 
     While examples in which the battery or condenser is placed below the film conveyance path were used in the explanations of the embodiments above, it is naturally also acceptable if the battery or condenser is placed in the empty space above the film conveyance path. 
     As is clear from the explanations above, using the present invention, a battery or condenser is placed below or above the film conveyance path between the cartridge bay and the spool bay such that their axes are substantially parallel to the optical axis, and therefore the empty space below or above the film conveyance path may be effectively utilized and an increase in the size of the camera may be prevented. 
     Although the present invention has been fully described by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be noted that various changes and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     Therefore, unless otherwise such changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as being included therein.

Technology Category: 3