Multiple Image Roll Film Camera

In our prior application, Ser. No. 157,674 there is described a compact multiple image camera in which a number of images of an oscilloscope or video monitor are formed on a rectangular cut film sheet carried in a film holder. The film holder is mounted behind the oscilloscope screen, in a plane perpendicular to the screen, and a folded optical path directs light from the oscilloscope screen along an output optical axis behind the screen and generally parallel to the screen.

This arrangement, having many advantages because of ease of handling and compact size, nevertheless still requires the use of cut sheet film and a film holder for each group of images to be made. Individual film sheets must be loaded into and out of the film holder and the cut film must be handled and transported in individual holders. The holders are costly, time consuming to handle, are damaged by improper handling, and become worn after multiple use or misuse. Further, a camera made to handle a film sheet of a given size is generally incapable of handling film of other sizes without significant modification of the camera or film holder. A common film size is 8".times.10", though other sizes are frequently desired and used. Generally a camera initially arranged to accept a film holder for 8".times.10" film cannot handle a film of 11".times.14", for example. Further, different size film holders usually are required for each different size of cut sheet film.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a multiple image camera that avoids or minimizes above-mentioned problems.

In carrying out principles of the present invention in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, an image formed on an oscilloscope screen is transmitted along an output axis behind the screen and generally parallel to the screen and the oscilloscope is mounted for motion in a first direction transverse to the output axis. Film from a supply roll is transported in a second direction transverse to the output axis by metering drive means and, after exposure, is cut along a line positioned between the metering drive means and the output axis. Cut film transport means are provided to shift the exposed film, but are maintained free of contact with the film during exposure. A detachable cassette for receiving exposed film has drive means therein to insure full insertion of each cut sheet into the cassette.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of major components of a multiple image roll film camera embodying principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of a multiple image camera and video monitor embodying principles of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken on lines 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view with the housing top removed;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section of a part of the camera showing the disengagable film transport mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 6--6 of FIG. 2 showing the film cutter;

FIG. 7 is a section showing part of the exit housing and cassette entrance;

FIG. 8 is a section taken on lines 8--8 of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are fragmentary sectional views of the cassette cover latch, and

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective showing portions of the camera.

A multiple image camera embodying principles of the present invention is arranged to rest upon a table top or other suitable horizontal support, and to have all parts within a camera housing that is not much greater in each of three dimensions than the video monitor that provides the display of which multiple photographic images are to be made upon a section cut from a roll of film. Because a roll of film is used and a section of the film cut after exposure, a great variety of film formats may be employed. For example, with an eleven inch wide roll of film, film sections after exposure and cutting may be 8".times.11", 11".times.14", or other lengths of the 11" wide film as may be desired. Various numbers and sizes of images may be positioned on a single sheet of film. Yet, even though film is supplied from a roll with all the advantages attendant thereon, exposed images are immediately available for processing and study. There is no need to wait for exposure of a complete roll since the exposed portion of the film is readily cut after the desired number of exposures.

As schematically illustrated in FIG. 1, a folded optical path including three mirrors 10, 12 and 14, and an interposed lens 16, is provided in an optical system that is fixedly mounted to a video monitor 18 so as to pass the image of a display on the face of the monitor to a selected one of a number of areas 20a-20i on a section 22 of film drawn from a film supply roll 23. The optical system and video monitor are mounted in a camera housing (not shown in FIG. 1) for bidirectional transverse motion as indicated by arrow 24. The roll film is mounted for bidirectional motion along the film length, in the direction indicated by arrow 26, relative to the camera housing and relative to the oscilloscope and optical system. The monitor schematically indicated at 18 is longitudinally elongated in the direction of arrow 26 and the mirrors 10, 12 and 14 are spaced and oriented to provide a folded optical path having a first horizontal leg 30, a second horizontal leg 32, a third rearwardly directed horizontal leg 34 and an output axis or output leg 36 directed vertically upwardly and positioned rearwardly of and to the side of the screen 37 of the monitor 18. Accordingly, the longitudinally movable roll film may be moved in either of its longitudinal directions to position areas such as 20a, 20d or 20g, etc. at the output optical axis. Similarly, the monitor 18, together with its optical system, can be moved transversely in the direction of arrow 24 to center the output optical path leg 36 upon any one of areas 20a, 20b, 20c, etc. It will be readily understood that the illustrated nine image format is merely exemplary of many that may be employed. However, it is often desirable to vary the sequence of exposure so that it is necessary, for certain image arrangements, to enable both the film and the monitor with its optics to move bidirectionally.

The monitor is shown oriented with the longer dimension of its screen vertical and the folded optical path arranged to bend around the side of the monitor. Obviously other arrangements and orientations may be employed, with the monitor turned at ninety degrees, for example, and the optical path bent around either side, top or bottom of the monitor, to provide the rearwardly positioned output optical axis.

FIG. 2 shows the components schematically shown in FIG. 1 mounted in a lightweight compact camera housing having a bottom 41, a top 42, sides 43 and 44 (FIG. 3), a back 45 and a front panel 46 on which may be mounted camera controls not shown and a viewing access door 48. A video monitor and optical system housing 50 (FIG. 11) includes a substantially rectangular monitor mounting section 52, a rectangular lens and exposure aperture section 54 and a truncated pyramidal optical turning section 56. Mirrors 10 and 12 are mounted on walls 53, 55 of turning section 56, wall 55 forming a pivotally mounted access door to permit direct viewing of the monitor screen via mirror 10 and door 48. Housing 50 has fixed brackets 58, 60 at one side and an elongated channel shaped fixed bracket 62 at the other which slidably receive rods 64, 66 that are fixedly mounted in the camera housing. This enables transverse motion of the monitor and optical system, which are driven by means of a fixed motor 68 driving a pinion 70 through a drive belt 72. Pinion 70 meshes with a rack 74 fixedly carried by one side of the monitor housing section 52. Position encoder 76 provides an electrical signal representing transverse position of the monitor.

A partition 80 (FIG. 2) extends horizontally across the camera housing and divides the housing into a lower chamber, in which is mounted the monitor and optical system, and an upper chamber, in which is mounted the film and film transport. In an upper section 82 of the upper chamber is a film spool 84, removably mounted in a conventional fashion on brackets such as bracket 86. Film 22 is drawn from the spool past a guide roller 89 and around a metering roller 92. The film is pressed against the metering roller by resiliently mounted pressure rollers 94, 96 spaced around the periphery of the metering roller to insure contact of the film over a substantial area of the metering roller so as to minimize slippage. Metering roller 92 is driven from a fixed motor 98 and a belt 100 that is entrained around a pulley on the metering roller shaft. As can best be seen in FIG. 11, metering roller 92 is positioned to engage one edge of the film and is mounted on a shaft 102 extending across the film and carrying at its remote end a second driven metering roller 104. A shaft position encoder 105 is fixed to metering roller shaft 102 to provide an output electrical signal representing the longitudinal position of the film.

Film is driven from the metering rollers along the upper surface of the partition plate 80 and over a transversely elongated exposure aperture 90 (see FIG. 4) in the partition plate. Aperture 90 is centered (in the direction of film travel) on the output axis of the optical system directly above the center of the third or output axis turning mirror 14, and directly above an output aperture 99 formed in the upper end of exposure aperture section 54.

Between the exposure aperture 90 and metering rollers 92, 104 is mounted a film cutter arranged to cut film 22 across the complete width of the film. The cutter includes a fixed knife or anvil 106 mounted below the partition plate and extending through an aperture 108 therein for cooperating with a movable blade 110 best shown in FIG. 6. The cutter is driven by a motor 112 that rotates a crank 114 fixed to the motor shaft and having an end thereof pivotally connected at pivot 116 to one end of the blade 110. The other end of the blade has an angulated inclined slot 118 formed therein which receives a fixed cam pin 120. As the motor 112 rotates, the pivot point 116 between the crank arm 114 and the blade traverses a circle around the motor shaft, shifting the blade longitudinally and raising and lowering the end connected to the motor and crank arm. Pin and slot 118, 120 allow the blade to shift longitudinally and at the same time also change its elevation so the entire blade moves both longitudinally and vertically to achieve a complete severing of the film in one revolution of the motor 112 and crank arm 114.

A shaft 130 is journaled within the upper or film chamber and driven by a fixed motor 132 and drive belt 134, this drive being independent of the film metering drive. Pivotally mounted on the shaft 130 is a transporter frame comprising first and second mutually spaced bars 136, 138 which are interconnected by shafts 142 and 144 which are journalled therein and extend therethrough from side to side of the film. Fixed on the respective opposite ends of shafts 142, 144 are transport rollers 146, 148, 150, 152. The rollers extend through apertures such as apertures 160, 162 (FIG. 2) at the side edges of a film guide and cover plate 164 that is spaced close to but slightly above the partition plate 80. Plate 164 is fixedly mounted within the upper chamber of the camera housing to help guide and hold the film flat and parallel to the imaging plane.

Cooperating with the transport rollers 146, 148, 150 and 152 are four pressure rollers of which only those shown at 166 and 168 are illustrated in FIG. 2. These rollers extend through appropriate apertures in the partition plate to bear against the film interposed between the pressure rollers and transport rollers and firmly grip this film. In order to insure that the film lies in the proper plane, pressure rollers 166 are positioned to extend to but not above the upper surface of partition plate 80 upon which the film rides.

Transport roller shaft 144 is driven by means of a belt 170 entrained over pulleys 176, 178 on shafts 130 and 144 respectively. Pulley 178 is coupled with shaft 144 through an override clutch 180 for purposes to be described below. Transport roller shaft 142 is driven from shaft 140 by a belt 184 and pulleys 186, 188 mounted on shafts 142 and 144 respectively.

In order to maintain the film free of drag of the film transport rollers during the metering drive of the film to position a specified portion of the film on the output optical axis, the transport rollers are temporarily disengaged from the film. After a section of the film has been completely exposed with a selected number and array of multiple images, this section of the film is severed and a forward portion thereof engaged by the transport rollers is driven from the exposure aperture. To enable the transport rollers to selectively engage and to be disengaged from the film, the transport frame is movable, as illustrated in FIG. 5, from the position shown in solid lines, wherein the rollers are urged (by gravity) downwardly toward the pressure rollers 166, 168, and an upper position, shown in dotted lines wherein the rollers 148, 152 are raised a distance sufficient to clear the film.

To achieve this motion a bifurcated lever 190 is pivoted to the transporter frame at a pivot point 192 and carries at its lowermost end a wheel 194 having an outer bearing surface that is spaced from pivot point 192 by a distance greater than the distance from the pivot point to the upper surface of film guide and cover plate 164. First and second solenoids 196, 198 are mounted on the transporter frame and each has a driven rod 200, 202 connected to opposite ends of pivotal drive bars 204, 205 which, in turn, are both pivoted at point 206 to and between the uppermost ends of the bifurcated lever 190. Each solenoid, when energized, exerts a strong pull on the upper end of the lever arm. Accordingly, when the solenoids are energized, one at a time, lever 190 moves between the first (transport engaged) position indicated in solid lines (with lever wheel 194 positioned to the right of dead center as viewed in FIG. 5) and the second (transport disengaged) position, indicated in dotted lines, with the lever wheel 194 to the left of dead center. Clockwise pivotal motion of the lever is limited so that in the transport disengaged position, with the lever wheels to the left of dead center, the lever extends at a relatively small angle with respect to a normal to the surface of the film cover and guide plate. Accordingly, in this position the entire transporter frame pivots in a clockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 5) about shaft 130. When solenoid 196 is energized the upper end of the lever is pulled to the left to pivot the lever counterclockwise and extend it at a significantly greater angle, an angle sufficiently great to engage the transport rollers with the film, causing the surface of lever wheel 194 to be spaced above the upper surface of the film guide and cover plate. In this position the weight of the transporter frame and its solenoid drive mechanism is taken by the transport rollers 148, 152, etc and the pressure rollers 166, 168 which, accordingly, firmly grasp the interposed edges of the film.

A significant advantage of the described mechanism for engaging and disengaging the transporter wheels is the fact that the mechanism may be moved between its positions with application of but a single short duration electrical pulse applied to one or other of the solenoids. The over center arrangement of the lever insures that gravity and the weight of the transport mechanism itself will hold it in either position, although other arrangements, such as springs or the like may be used either together with or instead of the gravity arrangements. Accordingly, no electrical power is employed when the transport rollers are in disengaged position and film is being exposed, wherefore there is less chance of creation of spurious electrical signals to interfere with the film exposure or metered motion.

Fixed to the side of the camera housing adjacent one end of the partition plate is a film exit housing 210 having a plurality of transversely spaced guide plates 212, 214, 216 and 218 (FIG. 11) each of which is formed with an arcuate film guide slot 213, 215, 217 and 219 having an entrance aligned with an exit aperture 220 formed in the side of the camera housing. Upper edges of the two inner slots 215 and 217 have a smaller radius of curvature than corresponding edges of the two outer slots 213 and 219 to restrict tendency of the exposed section of film to bow transversely.

A cassette 230 is detachably connected to the camera housing to provide a light-tight film receiving compartment into which exposed and cut film sections are inserted and stored so that these film sections may be processed as desired while other portions of the film of the supply roll have not yet been exposed. Film cassette 230 is formed of a pair of sidewalls 232, 234 having inwardly facing longitudinally extending slots in which are mounted a fixed back plate 236 and a slidably removable front plate or cover 238. The cassette includes a fixed top plate 240 (FIG. 7) having a film entrance slot 242 in registry with the slots 213, 215, 217 and 219 of the exit housing. Top 240 provides an overhanging flange extending outwardly from the cassette and is slidably received within and above projecting flanges 244, 246 (FIGS. 7 and 8) to secure the cassette to the housing. A suitable latch such as a slide plate 248 may be mounted to the exit housing 210 to selectively overlap cassette top 240 and lock the cassette in position.

To insure a light-free compartment within the cassette upon withdrawal of the cassette from the exit housing, the top of the cassette slidably mounts a transversely extending entrance cover 250 within a transversely extending slot 252. Plate 250 is urged toward the camera housing by a pair of spring elements of which only that identified at 254 is shown in FIG. 8, there being a similar spring (not shown) at the other end of cover 250. Cover 250 fixedly carries an upstanding pin 256 and a similar pin (not shown) on its other end which are adapted to be engaged with a pin 258, and a similar pin (not shown) on the other side of the exit housing, that are fixedly mounted in the exit housing and extend through horizontal openings in the cassette top 240 as the cassette is being connected to the camera housing. As the cassette and its cover 240 are slidably pushed toward the camera housing along the flanges 244 and 246, pins 258 engage pins 256 to slide the cassette entrance cover rearwardly against the urging of springs 254. As the cassette is removed from the exit housing the springs drive the entrance cover plate 250 forwardly to cover the cassette entrance slot.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the cassette front wall 238 is removable by sliding downwardly in the sidewall slots of the cassette. To insure a light-seal for this removable cassette cover 238 it is formed with an inwardly projecting flange 260 at its lower end which is adapted to be overlapped by a slidable lock plate 262 that is slidably mounted in transverse slots 264 in the cassette sidewalls 232 and 234. Lock plate 262 not only locks the cover 238 in position but enhances the light seal by providing a form of labyrinth light sealing path at the lower edge of the cassette.

An exposed and severed film sheet section 270 (FIG. 2) is readily stored within the interior of the cassette. The severed film tends to bow, as illustrated, and, because of the inherent stiffness of the film additional severed sections of film cannot simply be inserted into the cassette to be fully positioned by gravity. To insure full insertion of additional bowed film sections a cassette drive is provided adjacent the cassette film entrance in the form of cassette driver rollers 274, 276 (see FIG. 11) and cooperating pressure rollers 278, 280, all mounted and journaled within the cassette. Rollers 274, 276 are mounted on a shaft 282 which extends to the side of the cassette and carries a cassette drive roller 284.

Transport roller shaft 130, mounted in the camera housing, fixedly carries a gear 286 in mesh with a gear 288 also journalled in the camera housing. Gear 288 carries a pulley around wich is entrained a belt 290 which is also entrained over a pair of mutually spaced rollers 292, 294 journaled in the camera housing at one side of the cassette. Cassette drive roller 284 extends laterally outwardly from the side of the cassette and is adapted to be received in a slot (not shown) in the camera housing so as to be positioned between rollers 292, 294, pressing against the driven belt 290, as the cassette is slid into place upon the camera housing. Accordingly, the cassette may be readily attached or detached, connecting or disconnecting its power source (roller 284 and belt 290) and yet contains a film drive that grasps the leading edge of a film as it begins to enter the cassette. The cassette drive forces film downwardly against the frictional resistance exerted by bowed film sections that have been previously inserted into the cassette.

Because both the cassette and film transport drive, at times, drive a single section of film at the same time, it is desirable that the cassette drive is at least as fast or faster than the transport drive so that the film is pulled from the transport rather than pushed into the cassette drive. Accordingly, the override clutch 180 in the transport drive is provided and the gear ratios of the cassette drive are chosen so that the cassette will drive at a slightly higher speed to insure that the film is properly driven when both transport roller and casette drives engage the film.

In an operation of the camera, light from the display face of the monitor is directed along the folded optical path to the output axis 36 and through exposure aperture 90 in the partition plate. Motor 98 is energized to extract film from the spool 84 and to advance the film to position a desired portion of the film over the exposure aperture between the partition plate 80 and cover plate 164. At this time the transport disengaging lever 190 is in its more clockwise position, raising the transport frame and insuring disengagement of the transport rollers. The monitor and its housing and optical system are shifted transversely to position the optical axis and the optical housing output aperture 99 in the appropriate transverse position and the film is exposed. Thereafter, either the monitor and its optical system or the film, or both, are again shifted, in either direction, and another portion of the film is exposed.

As previously mentioned, in choosing certain types of arrays of film images on a section of film, it is desirable to reverse the film drive and move the section of the film being exposed back toward the metering drive. Because the film is relatively stiff and it is not desired to enlarge the camera sufficiently to provide space to handle a slack loop in the film, the film is rewound on the spool during such reverse film drive. To this end, a reverse wind motor 300 is provided to drive the spool and rewind film thereon by means of a belt 302 and drive pulleys 304, 306. Motor 300 is a low power motor that is readily overridden by the more powerful metering drive motor 98 so that whenever the metering drive motor 98 is energized to extract film from the spool, the film will be so extracted regardless of whether or not the rewind motor 300 is energized. In fact, if deemed necessary or desirable, the rewind motor may be operated continuously acting as a brake to insure that film is properly pulled from the roller under the drive of the more powerful motor 98 and its metering rollers 92, 104. Of course, when film is being rewound the motor 98 is reversed and metering rollers 92, 104 are driven in reverse to insure the proper output signal from film position encoder 105.

After all desired images of a group of images are formed on a section of the film, the film may be severed and transported to the storage cassette. Accordingly, the film cutter, which is positioned between the partition exposure aperture 90 and the metering rollers 94, 104 is operated by driving its motor 112 through a single complete revolution.

Upon completion of all image exposures on a single section of film (assuming the last exposure is at a film portion adjacent the cutter) the film is in a position wherein a forward section of the film is between rollers 150 and 152 and their cooperating pressure rollers. However, as previously explained, during the metered film drive and film exposure the entire film transport is in its upwardly pivoted disengaged position so that rollers 150 and 152 do not engage the film. Whenever transport rollers 150, 152 are disengaged, rollers 146, 148 are also disengaged. Because a shorter length of film may be exposed and severed, so that the length of film from its severed edge to its forward or free edge is not sufficient to reach the forward transport rollers 150, 152, the second pair of transport rollers 146 and 148 is provided. Therefore, when the film transporter is lowered to its transport position rollers 146, 148 will grasp the free end of the shorter severed film. Thus, even a much shorter section of film will always contact drive rollers in the course of its path through the camera.

Having completely exposed and severed the film, solenoid 196 is actuated to drive the bifurcated lever 190 counterclockwise lowering the transport frame and allowing the transport rollers to grasp the film edges. Thereafter the independent transport drive motor 132 is energized and the film is driven through the slotted guide paths formed in the exit housing and into the cassette. The cassette drive rollers grasp the forward edge of the cut film and pull the film from the camera housing, pushing the film downwardly into the cassette for storage.

If deemed necessary or desirable, the cassette 230 may be replaced by an automatic film developing or processing arrangement so that each exposed and severed section of film is automatically processed immediately after exposure.

There have been described methods and apparatus for making multiple images on a section of roll film, enabling different types of image arrays and different lengths of image arrays to be made selectively on sections of the film which may be readily severed and handled for immediate processing or storage, as may be desired.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited solely by the appended claims.